Faith&in&Water&
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www.arcworld.org
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Table!of!Contents!
Introduction
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Faith Contributors
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1. Interview with Dr Vinya Ariyaratne
BUDDHISM. Sri Lanka!
7!
2. The Importance of Water: A Buddhist Viewpoint
BUDDHISM. The Venerable PKS Lom, The Buddhapadipa Temple, London, UK!
9!
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3. Organizing for Water: A History of the Communities of the Lower Lempa, El Salvador
CHRISTIANITY. Hernan Gaitan, United Communities, El Salvador!
12!
4. The Australian Catholic Bishops’ response to the call for Ecological Conversion and Ecological
Vocations
14!
CHRISTIANITY. Jacqui Remond and Megan Seneque, Catholic Earthcare Australia!
5. Faith and Water - a Christian Perspective
CHRISTIANITY. Mary Grey, St Mary’s University College, Twickenham, UK!
6. Hai district water supply project: a model of community rural water supply initiated by a
church in Tanzania
CHRISTIANITY. Eng. Rogers C. Marandu, Tanzania!
7. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Faith-Based Schools
CHRISTIANITY. Magdaline Gitahi, Redeemed Gospel Church, Mathare, Kenya!
19!
25!
31!
8. Faith in Water
35!
CHRISTIANITY. Bishop Walter Scott Thomas Snr and Reverend Alfred Bailey II, New Psalmist
Baptist Church, Baltimore, US!
9. Links between Education, Religion and Inspiration
HINDUISM. Rupa Ragunath Das, Director of Food for Life Vrindavan Society, India!
38!
10. The Dharma of Water: Hindu water principles
HINDUISM. Ranchor Prime, UK!
41!
11. The Water Situation in Jordan
ISLAM. Dr Murad Jabay Bino, Executive Director of the Inter-Islamic Network on Water
Resources Development and Management, Amman, Jordan!
45!
12. Water Conservation, Sanitation and Hygiene in Islam
ISLAM. Imam Dr. Muhammad Ridwaan Gallant, South Africa!
51!
13. Water and Spiritual Life in Batang Gadis National Park
ISLAM. Jatna Supriatna, Fachruddin Mangunjaya, Jarot Arisona and Erwin Perbatakusuma,
Sumatra, Indonesia!
56!
14. Cleanliness and Islam
ISLAM. Dr Mawil Izzi Dien!
59!
2
15. “And she said to him, 'Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a Negev land [desert]; give
me also pools of water,' and Kalev gave her the upper pools and the lower pools.”
62!
JUDAISM. Manlio Dell’Ariccia, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee!
16. Water, Hygiene and Sanitation in Jewish Tradition
JUDAISM. Dr Mirele B. Goldsmith!
65!
17. The Zoroastrian view of Conservation of Natural Elements: “Tanka” of Bharuch
ZOROASTRIANISM. Prof. Kavas Kapadia and Dr. Shernaz Cama, India!
69!
18. Faith in Water: Ideas, Inspiration and Stories
ZOROASTRIANISM. Dr Rooyintan Peshotan Peer
74!
Secular Contributors
78!
20. Clean Water Now!
CWN. Evert Groeneveld, the Netherlands!
78!
24. The Importance of School Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
UK Department for International Development DFID. Stephen Young, UK!
86!
19. Micro solutions have macro effects
EMF. Allerd Stikker, Ecological Management Foundation, the Netherlands!
95!
23. Water supply, sanitation and hygiene facilities and related education in faith-based schools 97!
IRC. Annemarieke Mooijman and Christine Sijbesma, International Water and Sanitation Centre,
The Netherlands!
21. Micro Water Facility
MWF. Frederick Claasen, the Netherlands!
109!
22. Smart Techs: new options to improve WASH in schools
SMART TECHS. Henk Holtslag and Walter Mgina, Tanzania!
111!
27. Adaptive Water Governance
UNDP!
115!
25. Religion and Water and the link with Hygiene Promotion: the case of Bangladesh
UNICEF. Hans Spruijt, Bangladesh!
118!
28. Water, faith and education
WORLD BANK. Leonard Abrams, Senior Water Resource Specialist, Africa!
120!
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3
Introduction!
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In&July&2009&ARC&organized&what&turned&out&to&be&a&very&significant&meeting&at&Salisbury’s&
Sarum&College&in&the&UK.&&
The&subject&was&Faith,&Schools&and&Water,&and&we&invited&some&35&specialists&–&representing&
either&faiths&working&on&schools&and&water&issues,&or&secular&agencies&doing&the&same,&or&–&
and&this&was&one&of&the&unusual&things&about&our&meeting&–&entrepreneurs&who&were&
developing&new&methods,&tools&and&techniques&which&could&help&schools&in&the&global&south&
cope&better&with&issues&of&fresh&water&and/or&sanitation.
What&it&led&to&directly&is&a&story&in&itself.&ARC’s&new&Water&Schools&Initiative,&only&14&months&
old& at& the& time& of& writing,& but& already& linking& to& many& faith& schools,& water& NGOs& and&
government&education,&water&and&health&departments&around&the&world,&is&really&exciting.&
&&
On& top& of& its& outcomes,& the& conference& itself& was& full& of& so& many& inspiring& stories& and&
statistics&which&we&have&found&ourselves&referring&to&again&and&again,&that&we&have&decided&
to&issue&this&document&in&order&to&share&them.&We&learned,&for&example,&about:&
&&
1.&&&&& The& importance& of& a& highWlevel& campaigner.& For& example& the& King& of& Thailand& has& not&
only& added& the& environment& to& the& curriculum,& but& he& has& also& added& it& as& a& Buddhist&
criterion,&since&throughout&45&years&of&his&ministry&the&Buddha&urged&monks&over&and&over&
again&to&be&aware&of&using&water&and&not&to&waste&it.&Today,&if&the&King&hears&that&the&water&
in&a&lake&near&a&village&is&dirty,&instead&of&advising&people&to&use&chemical&substances&to&clean&
it,& he& tells& them& that& the& best& and& costless& way& to& sanitize& the& water& in& that& lake& is& to& put&
introduce& water& plants& known& as& Eichhornnia& Speciosa& into& that& lake.& The& dirty& water& is&
mitigated&by&these&waterWplants.&
&&
2.&&&&&In&El&Salvador’s&Lower&Lempa&region,&there&is&plenty&of&water&but&ironically&it&cannot&be&
drunk.& & During& the& 1970s,& the& land& belonged& to& just& a& handful& of& wealthy& families& running&
cotton& and& sugarcane& plantations& and& using& vast& quantities& of& chemicals,& which&
contaminated& the& ground& water.&& The& rain& spread& the& chemicals& throughout& the& area.&&
Today,&following&relocations&after&El&Salvador’s&1992&peace&accords&–&there&are&many&more&
families& living& there.& The& government& refused& to& help,& wanting& the& people& to& abandon& the&
land,&but&members&of&the&community&led&by&the&Church&initiated&a&project&to&deliver&clean&
water&to&each&home,&with&volunteers&laying&the&piping.&“For&some&people&it&seemed&like&a&lot&
of&work&for&water&–&but&they&were&the&ones&who&didn’t&believe&that&the&water&was&poisoning&
them.& Today& most& communities& in& the& Lower& Lempa& have& direct& access& to& water.”& Those&
people& who& drank& the& contaminated& water& for& a& long& time& are& 45& percent& more& likely& to&
suffer&from&kidney&insufficiency.&
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3.&&&&& A& HinduWrun& project& building& water& pumps& in& villages& managed& to& be& sustainable& by&
asking&the&villagers&to&pay&for&it&collectively,&and&organize&the&upkeep&of&the&pumps.&In&one&
village&they&declined&to&do&so,&and&the&project&collected&the&pump&and&brought&it&to&another&
village.&Every&other&village&has&taken&full&responsibility&for&their&tanks&and&bores.&
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4.&&&&&Jordan&is&one&of&the&10&most&waterWscarce&countries&in&the&world,&with&only&150&m3&of&
water& available& per& person& The& international& limit& to& water& poverty& is& 1000& m3,& and&
Jordanians&have&just&3&percent&of&the&water&share&of&Western&Europeans.&The&reason&is&the&
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lack&of&rivers&(today&you&can&cross&the&Jordan&in&a&single&stride)&and&insufficient&funding&for&
water&desalination.&And&the&result&is&that&each&household&gets&water&only&one&day&a&week.&
Richer&families&have&cisterns,&but&poorer&people&can’t&afford&that.&Most&Jordanians&are&Sunni&
Muslims,&and&the&InterWIslamic&Network&on&Water&Resources&Development&and&Management&
(INWRDAM)&has&been&initiating&innovative&projects&to&help&treat&grey&water&and&save&fresh&
water& throughout& the& country& through& understanding& people’s& Islamic& traditional&
understanding&of&natural&resources.&
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5.&&&&&Nearly&half&of&all&Ethiopian&youngsters&do&not&receive&even&primary&education,&and&the&
likelihood& of& receiving& a& high& school& education& is& of& course& even& smaller,& with& just& 23%& of&
teenage&boys&and&13%&of&teenage&girls&enrolled&in&secondary&schools.&We&heard&about&how&W&
before& the& American& Jewish& Joint& Distribution& Committee& (JDC)& installed& the& fresh& water&
pump&in&a&village&in&Gondar,&Ethiopia&W&most&people&drank&water&from&a&nearby&stream.&Like&
hundreds&of&villages&around&rural&Ethiopia,&Gondar’s&Gabriel&Kebele&had&no&access&to&potable&
water& for& drinking,& bathing,& or& cooking& during& the& region’s& extended& dry& seasons& and&
draughts.&JDC&has&constructed&over&a&hundred&produced&hand&dug&wells,&protected&springs,&
taps,& microWdams,& and& latrines& across& Gondar& through& its& International& Development&
Program.&
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6.&&&&&The&Zoroastrians&traditionally&built&special&tanks&which&harvested&rainwater&during&the&
wet&season,&to&enable&it&to&be&used&during&the&dry.&We&learned&about&the&tanks&of&Bharuch&in&
Gujarat,&with&details&about&how&they&were&constructed&–&and&allowed&ourselves&to&speculate&
a& little& on& the& impact& on& people,& and& on& household& gardens,& if& this& practice& were& to& be&
reintroduced.&
&&
In&this&introduction&we&have&given&just&one&example&from&each&of&the&faiths&represented.&But&
there&is&much&more&to&find.&On&the&faith&side&there&are&theological&explorations&of&the&role&of&
water&in&each&religion,&as&well&as&stories&from&India&and&Tanzania,&some&moving&tales&from&a&
local&Church&helping&sanitation&in&the&Nairobi&slums,&and&the&AfricanWAmerican&church&which&
is&supporting&it.&&
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There&is&an&extraordinary&story&from&the&Batang&Gadis&National&Park&where&Islamic&students&
and&teachers&were&so&distressed&that&they&could&not&get&clean&water&for&ritual&washing&that&
they&campaigned&and&helped&create&a&national&park.&And&another&from&South&Africa&where&
Muslims&in&the&townships&sometimes&have&to&stand&for&two&hours&before&morning&prayer&to&
warm&the&water&for&ghusl&(compulsory&bath)&as&well&as&for&ablution.&
&&
On&the&secular&side&we:&learn&about&a&disinfecting&unit&called&the&Naiade&which&runs&on&solar&
power;&hear&from&the&UK’s&Department&for&International&Development&about&their&work&with&
WASH& (including& a& story& from& Pakistan);& learn& from& our& partner& Ecological& Management&
Foundation& (EMF)& about& how& microWsolutions& to& problems& like& the& scarcity& of& clean& water&
can&sometimes&have&macroWeffects,&and&saw&some&examples&of&that&from&the&promoters&of&
MicroWWater& Facility& and& SMART& TECHS;& hear& from& the& International& Water& and& Sanitation&
Centre& (IRC)& about& how& disease& is& spread& through& water,& from& UNICEF& with& an& important&
story& from& Bangladesh,& and& from& UNDP& about& how& this& all& fits& in& with& the& Millennium&
Development& Goals,& and& from& the& World& Bank& about& how& water,& faith& and& education& are&
absolutely&linked.&
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Side& by& side,& religious& and& secular& shared& stories,& visions,& hopes,& plans& and& expertise& and&
from&this&a&new&partnership&has&arisen.&This&is&the&first&fruit&of&that&partnership.&&
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The&conference&was&organized&by&ARC,&with&financial&and&organizational&assistance&from&the&
EMF,& and& support& from& IRC.& Thanks& to& all& those& who& participated,& and& in& particular& to& all&
those&who&were&inspired&to&continue&the&initiative,&and&make&changes&happen.&&
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Martin&Palmer&
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THE&ALLIANCE&OF&RELIGIONS&AND&CONSERVATION&
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www.arcworld.org&
[email protected]&
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July&2010&
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6
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Faith!Contributors!
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1.!Interview!with!Dr!Vinya!Ariyaratne!
BUDDHISM.!Sri!Lanka!
Sarvodaya& has& been& working& in& Sri& Lanka& for& the& last& 50& years.& We& have& been& inspired& by&
Buddhist&and&Gandhian&thinking&but&we&work&across&all&religions&and&ethnic&groups.&We&face&
a&very&challenging&time.&We&have&seen&the&end&of&a&very&violent&conflict&lasting&for&25&years,&
and& the& factors& that& led& to& the& conflict& have& still& not& been& addressed.& As& a& national&
movement& we& work& on& the& ground& helping& people& affected& by& the& war.& We& have& about&
300,000&internally&displaced&people&and&are&also&involved&reconciliation.&&
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The& word& Sarvodaya& comes& from& the& Sanskrit,& meaning& “awakening& of& all”& and& we& believe&
this&awakening&has&to&take&place&from&the&individual&upwards,&to&include&the&whole&world.&
We& work& at& the& grassroots& level& but& at& the& same& time& engage& in& dialogues& like& this.& We&
believe& development& is& not& just& about& physical& development& but& it’s& about& spiritual,& moral&
and&cultural&as&well&as&social,&economic&and&political&development.&&
We& started& in& the& early& 1950s& with& a& simple& philosophy& where& people& were& mobilised& to&
fulfil& their& own& needs& to& the& greatest& extent& possible,& with& their& own& participation.& Our&
philosophy&was&picked&up&by&various&people&and&we&supported&it&through&various&means.&We&
reach&about&15,000&out&of&a&total&of&40,000&villages&in&Sri&Lanka.&It’s&an&integrated&approach&
to&development&and&we&derive&a&lot&from&Buddhist&thinking.&&
FROM&INDIVIDUAL&LEVELS&TO&COMMUNITY&LEVELS&
At&an&individual&level,&we&have&principles&that&we&try&to&practice&based&on&Buddhist&teachings&
of& compassion& and& how& you& translate& this& into& action.& The& joy& you& get& out& of& it& keeps& you&
going&despite&the&hurdles&and&challenges&you&face&in&a&difficult&journey.&Finally,&you&develop&
a&state&of&mind&where&you&are&able&to&withstand&blame,&praise,&joy&and&sadness.&&We&try&to&
inculcate&these&principles&at&an&individual&level.&At&a&collective&community&level&we&bring&in&
principles& based& on& sharing& W& sharing& of& your& energy,& wealth& and& intellect& for& social&
development.& Our& movement& has& been& quite& successful& in& mobilising& a& volunteer& spirit&
towards&community&development.&&
We&have&developed&a&fiveWstage&model&towards&community&development:&
1. You& start& with& changing& your& own& consciousness,& building& confidence& about&
yourselves&
2. And&then&organising&the&community,&providing&training&to&build&certain&skills&within&
the&village,&leadership&skills,&&
3. Then&bringing&the&community’s&own&resources&together,&&
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4. Then&forming&a&community&organisation&to&take&charge&of&your&development&work,&
which&is&given&legal&recognition&by&being&incorporated&under&the&existing&law&of&the&
country.&&
5. Then&we&go&into&income&and&employment&generation&activities,&at&which&point&you&
become&totally&independent&and&don’t&have&to&rely&even&on&the&services&of&our&own&
organisation.&&
WATER!!
We&identify&10&basic&human&needs,&with&the&two&top&priorities&being&setting&up&a&clean&and&
beautiful&environment&in&your&own&community,&and&getting&clean&drinking&water.&We&look&at&
this&fulfilment&of&the&basic&needs&as&part&of&a&larger&process&of&selfWdevelopment;&you&can’t&
just&separate&water&and&sanitation&from&other&needs.&But,&at&the&same&time&you&should&look&
at& the& basic& infrastructure& needs& of& the& community& so& it& becomes& part& of& a& whole& rather&
than&standing&alone&as&a&development&activity.&&
The!Buddhist!spiritual!approach!towards!water!!
Water&is&seen&as&a&life&giver&in&Buddhism.&And&as&in&many&other&religions&it’s&also&a&purifier.&
It’s& also& a& symbol& of& fertility;& of& transfer& (of& energy& and& merit)& and& of& seasonality.& Let& me&
explain&this:&&we&believe&that&if&your&spiritual&energy&is&very&high,&then&there&will&be&a&lot&of&
rain&in&the&right&season&and&if&the&rulers&are&also&very&just&and&right&then&there&will&be&a&lot&of&
rain.&So&there&is&a&very&whole&complex&set&of&thinking&and&values&that&are&connected&to&water&
in&Sri&Lanka.&&
When&we&try&to&address&water&needs&in&a&community&we&have&to&look&at&the&larger&cultural&
context.&Sri&Lanka&is&very&well&known&to&have&a&hydraulic&civilisation,&that&is&we&have&a&large&
number& of& tanks& W& humanWmade,& ancient& tanks& W& which& supplied& water& to& the& entire&
community.&Tanks&are&connected&to&the&temple&as&well&as&to&the&village&and&this&tankWvillageW
temple&concept&was&very&much&alive&in&Sri&Lanka&for&more&than&2,500&years.&&
Water!supply!and!education!
Many& people& still& don’t& have& access& to& clean& drinking& water& and& those& needs& have& to& be&
satisfied&in&a&way&that&is&culturally&appropriate.&Therefore,&we&use&our&model&to&fulfil&these&
needs& across& all& ethnic& groups& and& in& all& districts.& We& use& appropriate& technology.& We& are&
not&involved&in&fulfilling&the&water&and&sanitation&needs&in&the&formal&education&system&but&
we& are& very& active& in& the& early& child& development& sector& or& pre& schools& which& is& very&
important&because&these&are&the&formative&years&and&if&you&inculcate&good&practices&at&that&
stage&then&you&are&really&going&to&make&an&impact.&&
We& have& made& a& big& impact& in& the& country& over& the& 50& years& in& establishing& water& supply&
and&sanitation&systems,&but&what’s&more&important&is&the&process&in&which&we&try&to:&&
•
Develop&the&local&capacity&so&that&they&become&sustainable,&&
•
Introduce&appropriate&technology&&
•
Harness&community&participation.&&
We&are&active&at&the&policy&level&as&well,&with&partners&including&ICR,&IRC&and&so&many&others.&
We& have& pioneered& certain& technologies& in& Sri& Lanka& and& they& have& become& national&
standards& now.& Recently,& even& introducing& technologies& like& rainwater& harvesting,& solar,&
have&been&part&of&this&process.&&
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Rural& infrastructure& is& seen& as& a& unifying& force& in& the& community& bringing& various& groups&
together& and& also& creating& interWcommunity& harmony.& We& have& to& build& that& social& capital&
and&religion,&religious&teachings&and&spirituality&are&an&integral&part&of&the&process&to&make&
the&community&really&own&those&facilities&and&look&after&them.&Also,&we&have&to&look&at&the&
financing&options,&which&we&are&now&looking&at&through&our&own&microfinance&schemes.&&
Lastly,& we& are& facing& a& tremendous& challenge;& our& organisation& is& now& looking& after& more&
than&50,000&internally&displaced&people.&There&are&tens&of&thousands&of&tents&in&one&square&
kilometre&area&in&the&northern&part&of&Sri&Lanka,&where&the&toilet&ratio&is&1:400&people.&We&
are&trying&to&bring&it&down,&the&international&standard&is&1:20,&and&we&are&at&least&trying&to&
bring& it& down& to& 1:50,& which& is& a& challenging& task.& We& are& trying& to& bring& water& to& these&
people&through&water&filtration&systems&and&transferring&through&water&tankers.&&
The& future& is& that& we& will& continue& to& support& achieving& national& targets& in& the& water& and&
sanitation&sector.&Then&we&have&to&be&involved&in&post&war&reconstruction.&Then&lastly,&we&
have& to& build& on& the& new& acceptance& of& the& value& of& spiritual& dimension& in& development&
thereby& also& contributing& to& ethnic& and& religious& harmony& and& coexistence,& not& just& at& the&
community&level&but&also&at&the&international&level.&&
&
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2.!The!Importance!of!Water:!A!Buddhist!Viewpoint!
BUDDHISM.!The!Venerable!PKS!Lom,!The!Buddhapadipa!Temple,!London,!UK!!
Throughout& his& lifetime& the& Buddha& emphasized& the& importance& of& people& respecting& the&
natural&resources&on&which&of&course&all&life&depends.&Water&is&vital&to&life:&over&90&percent&
of&the&bodies&of&all&creatures&consist&of&water.&In&the&modern&world&although&these&resources&
are&an&indispensable&part&of&our&existence&there&is&a&regrettable&tendency&to&take&them&for&
granted.& The& huge& increase& in& population& of& the& world,& a& doubling& in& numbers& since& 1950,&
means&inevitably&that&these&resources&are&becoming&increasingly&scarce,&and&as&a&result&now&
perhaps& more& than& ever& before& people& are& realizing& how& vital& it& is& for& them& to& conserve&
these&essential&elements&of&life.&
&
The&Buddha’s&teaching&in&respect&of&these&resources&is&not&just&simply&an&appeal&to&people&to&
avoid&waste&but&incorporates&a&complete&reasoning&of&life.&We&are&so&utterly&dependent&on&
the&world&out&there&beyond&the&barrier&of&our&skin&that&in&a&very&real&sense&it&is&our&other&
self;&we&are&inconceivable&without&air,&sunlight,&animals,&birds,&insects,&plant&life&and&WATER&
and&therefore&we&do&need&to&honour&and&respect&these&other&aspects&of&our&other&self.&This&
need&has&always&been&an&essential&part&of&the&Buddha’s&Dhamma&(the&Truth).&&&
&
According&to&one&part&of&the&Book$of$Buddhist$Discipline&the&Buddha&states&quite&clearly&that&
a& human& life& is& composed& of& four& elements,& one& of& which& is& the& Water& element,& known& as&
adhesion.&The&adhesion&element&(such&as&bile,&phlegm,&blood,&etc)&has&a&cohesive&function&
that& holds& all& particles& of& matter& in& a& human& body& together& and& thus& prevents& them& from&
scattering.& He& says& not& only& food& on& which& all& living& creatures& depend& but& they& also& need&
water.&Without&water&we&cannot&survive.&&
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9
Throughout& 45& years& of& his& ministry& he& urged& monks& over& and& over& again& to& be& aware& of&
using& water& and& not& to& waste& it.& He& orders& the& monks& who& live& in& a& monkWcompound& (the&
dwelling& houses& and& huts)& should& comply& with& the& discipline& of& hygiene& and& sanitation.& In&
one& part& of& the& Self3training$ disciplines& he& warns& the& monks& against& urinating,& defecating&
and& spitting& saliva& into& water.& If& a& monk& is& infected& with& cholera& bacteria& and& passes& his&
stools&into&a&lake&or&a&canal&the&water&becomes&contaminated&with&diseases.&If&people&drink&
the&water&contaminated&with&cholera&bacteria,&it&will&soon&cause&a&disastrous&epidemic.&We,&
Buddhist& monks,& often& persuade& our& congregations& to& follow& the& Buddha’s& advice& at& all&
costs.&
&
Although&in&his&lifetime&there&were&no&such&things&as&the&carbon&emission&from&factory&and&
millions&of&petrolWfuelled&cars&as&we&have&today&the&Buddha&often&advised&the&monks&to&look&
after&trees,&plants,&shrubs&and&the&like.&He&said&that&trees,&bushes&and&other&plants&help&to&
purify&the&air&that&human&beings&and&animals&breathe.&&
&
The!King’s!Secret:!Eichhornnia$Speciosa!!
!
I&want&to&report&on&the&projects&of&His&Majesty&the&King&of&Thailand.!As!a&devout&Buddhist,&
the&King&always&complies&with&the&teaching&of&the&Buddha.&He&keeps&an&eye&upon&the&social&
welfare&and&environment&of&people&from&all&walks&of&life.&To&this&end,&he&has&Four$Thousand&
Royal$Initiative$Projects.&His&main&reason&is&to&support&all&farmers.&He&says&the&agriculture&is&
the&great&pillar&of&the&kingdom.&All&of&the&plans&he&has&made&are&to&flourish&‘water&hygiene,&
sanitary& conditions,& irrigation& and& farmWsoils’& in& the& miserable& slum& areas,& in& the& poverty&
stricken&villages&and&in&remote&sites&of&the&country.&&
&
He&emphasizes&that&his&projects&are&based&on&Simplicity.&And&they&must&not&be&complicated&
so&that&the&poor&farmers&should&get&on&with&his&project&facilities.&The&King&often&visits&citizens&
in&the&countryside.&There&are&no&remote&areas&where&he&doesn’t&visit.&As&water&is&for&both&
human&and&animal&consumers&he&always&advises&people&in&remote&regions&to&take&great&care&
of& the& water& in& a& lake& and& a& river& and& so& on.& He& warns& people& against& contaminating& the&
water&contaminated&with&sewage&as&it&may&cause&a&disastrous&illness.&&
&
If&the&King&sees&the&water&in&a&lake&of&the&village&being&dirty,&instead&of&advising&people&to&
use& chemical& substance& to& clean& it,& he& tells& them& that& the& best& and& lowest& cost& way& to&
sanitize& the& water& in& that& lake& is& to& put& some% water% plants& known& as& Eichhornnia% Speciosa&
into&that&lake.&&
&
How&does&it&work?&These&water&plants&always&have&lots&of&long&roots.&Naturally&they&grow&up&
very&well&and&float&in&the&water.&Soon&afterwards&all&roots&of&these&water&plants&absorb&and&
suck&up&the&dirt&in&the&water.&Strangely&enough&the&water&in&that&will&look&better&in&a&short&
time.& Although& that& water& may& not& be& ready& for& human& consumers,& it& is& not& harmful& and&
ready&for&animals&to&consume.&&
&
Now&all&of&schoolteachers&and&university&lecturers&in&Thailand&who&teach&students&religious&
education&follow&the&King’s&projects&and&advice.&They&add&the&lessons&on&the&usage&of&water,&
hygiene&sanitary&conditions&into&their&teaching.&Hopefully&the&future&Thai&generations&should&
understand&the&usefulness&of&these&methods.&
&
During&the&past&20&years&the&Thai&government&who&followed&the&King’s&stepping&stone&had&
three& large& dams& constructed& on& three& rivers:& one& dam& in& the& North,& another& in& the& West&
and&another&in&the&Northeast&of&Thailand.&The&reason&of&having&the&dams&is&to&prevent&the&
10
loss&of&the&rainsWwater.&All&of&the&clean&fresh&water&is&stored&in&a&reservoir&so&as&to&produce&
electricity& and& to& support& the& rice& farms& with& irrigation.& By& using& the& propellant& machines&
with&the&strong&flowing&power&under&the&dam&is&the&right&way.&This&electrical&industry&may&
have&no&carbon&dioxide&emission.&&&
!
Buddhist!Beliefs!and!Action!
!
As!the!moon!is!a!satellite!of!the!earth,&according&to&ancient&myths&many&Buddhists&believe&
that&the&moon&has&direct&effect&on&a&human&life&on&earth.&The&moon&is&responsible&for&the&
ebb&and&flow&of&the&tides.&Hence&it&exerts&its&pull&on&all&water&elements&and&since&this&is&the&
largest& element& of& the& human& body& it& appears& when& the& moon’s& movement& directly&
influences&a&female&period.&Some&women&even&get&moon&struck&on&the&full&moon&night!&In&
common&with&other&religions&some&Thai&Buddhists&have&ceremonial&uses&of&water.&Water&is&
purified& by& specific& Buddhist& chanting& of& the& monks& –& providing& ‘Holy& Water’& for& use& in&
variety& of& ceremonies& including& the& blessing& traditionally& given& on;& birthday& anniversary,&
marriage&and&other&events.&&
&
We&Buddhist&monks!at!the!Thai!Temple!in!Wimbledon&run&an&‘Introduction&to&Buddhism’&for&
adults,& and& ‘Sunday% School’& for& teenagers& and& children.& Not& only& do& we& teach& them&
Buddhism&but&we&also&advise&them&to&grow&up&maturely&and&psychologically.&To&this&end,&our&
target& is& to& educate& the& young& that& nothing& should& hinder,& block& or& prevent& them& from&
properly&growing&inwardly.&We&often&teach&them&to&understand&the&usefulness&of&the&vital&
resources&like&water&we&daily&consume,&fresh&air&we&breathe,&and&good&hygiene,&sanitation&
and&ecological&environments.&&
&
When&a&school&term&begins&we&usually&have&groups&of&primary&or&secondary&schoolchildren,&
coming&to&visit&the&Temple&three&times&a&week.&The&teachers&want&the&children&to&experience&
a&place&of&worship&and&to&ask&the&monks&about&basic&Buddhism&for&their&exams.&We&take&the&
opportunity& to& give& them& good& advice& on& taking& care& of& water& resources,& sanitation& and&
hygiene&at&home&and&at&school.&We&urge&them&that&everyone&needs&to&do&more&to&reduce&
carbon&emissions.&
&
I&wholeheartedly&thank&ARC&for&inviting&me&to&take&part&in&this&unique&workshop.&I&do&hope&
that&Faith!in!Water&as&the&‘heart&and&soul’&of&the&workshop&should&be&landmark&in&widening&
and&propagating&what&we&all&must&do&now&to&save&environmental&resources.&This&workshop&
should& be& the& bread& and& butter& for& the& whole& human& society& so& that& the& public,&
schoolteachers,& healthWcare& secretary,& and& education& inspectors& in& less& developed& places&
should& awaken& and& be& aware& of& the& risks& and& deal& more& with& water,& hygiene& and& sanitary&
conditions.&&
&
The&government&of&powerful&countries&should&unwaveringly&support&ARC's&aim&and&objects&
and& urge& the& public& to& save& vital& resources& and& rainforest& before& it& is& too& late.& Finally& this&
workshop& should& shake& off& deforestation,& and& selfWcentredness& and& stubbornness& that&
derive& from& greed& and& delusion& to& exploit& natural& resources& and& rainforest.& Greed& and&
delusion&are&the&real&diseases&affecting&the&modern&society.&Let$us$hope$that$our$workshop$
will$be$successful!$
&
11
3.!Organizing!for!Water:!A!History!of!the!Communities!of!the!Lower!Lempa,!
El!Salvador!
CHRISTIANITY.!Hernan!Gaitan,!United!Communities,!El!Salvador!
Water&is&of&vital&importance&for&life&and&all&of&us&who&populate&the&earth.&&Our&communities&
are& characterized& for& their& abundance& of& water,& but& ironically& we& cannot& drink& it.& & This& is&
because&during&the&1970s,&this&land&known&as&the&Lower&Lempa,&belonged&to&just&a&handful&
of& wealthy& families.& They& ran& cotton& and& sugarcane& plantations& for& large& profits,& but& to&
operate&at&such&a&scale&they&had&to&use&large&amounts&of&chemical&pesticides&and&fertilizers,&
which&after&time&accumulated&and&contaminated&the&ground&water.&&This&became&a&serious&
problem&for&the&few&families&living&in&the&area&at&the&time,&as&the&rain&spread&the&chemicals&
throughout&the&zone.&We&are&now&many&more&families&&W&relocated&here&after&El&Salvador’s&
peace& accords& in& 1992& –& and& our& organization& principally& through& Christian& Base&
Communities&has&led&us&to&mobilize&around&this&issue.&&&
&
Towards& the& end& of& the& 70’s& El& Salvador& experienced& economic,& social,& religious,& political,&
and&cultural&crises.&The&unequal&distribution&of&wealth&and&the&exaggerated&concentration&of&
land& among& a& few& families& had& become& so& blatant& that& the& government& was& forced& to&
implement&land&reforms&in&a&last&attempt&to&restore&social&order.&&The&redistribution&of&land&
brought&more&families&to&this&highly&fertile&river&basin&in&1980.&&But&since&there&were&still&no&
means&to&make&social&demands,&the&population&was&forced&to&drink&the&contaminated&water.&&
They& sought& moral& support& through& the& Catholic& Church& –& where& many& formed& Christian&
Based& Communities& as& a& means& to& organize& and& resolve& the& problems& they& faced& in& their&
communities.&&&
&
The& 80’s& saw& the& intensification& of& the& armed& conflict,& and& the& landless& and& marginalized&
sought& a& political& space& through& revolution.& & The& inhabitants& of& the& Lower& Lempa& were&
targeted&as&subversives&by&the&government;&initiating&a&genocide&against&El&Salvador’s&rural&
poor.&&This&is&when&many&of&us&around&the&country&were&forced&to&abandon&the&little&we&had&
to&join&the&ranks&of&the&guerrillas.&&&
&
After& the& peace& accords& in& 1992& those& of& us& forced& into& hiding& were& able& to& return& to& our&
homes,& and& others& who& had& been& exiled& to& other& countries& like& Nicaragua& and& Honduras&
came& to& the& Lower& Lempa& –& now& more& socially& conscious& than& ever.& & The& Church& was&
instrumental& in& organizing& the& communities& and& facilitating& international& contacts& to& begin&
addressing& the& many& needs;& we& were& starting& from& scratch.& & Many& of& the& reWpopulated&
communities&in&the&Lower&Lempa&began&as&mere&campgrounds&in&a&wilderness&that&had&been&
abandoned&during&the&12&years&of&civil&war.&&&
&
The&first&projects&sought&housing,&health&care,&education,&but&the&water&came&from&the&same&
contaminated&sources&as&before.&Most&families&had&artesian&wells&only&4&or&5&meters&deeps.&&
The& first& test& for& the& communities& came& in& 1998& with& Hurricane& Mitch& flooded& everything&
under&1or&2&meters&of&water,&demonstrating&the&vulnerability&of&the&zone&to&an&international&
audience.&&Mitch&further&polluted&the&local&water&supply,&but&we&had&no&other&option&than&to&
continue&consuming&it,&causing&outbreaks&of&disease,&especially&among&children.&&&
&
As& the& communities& developed& and& the& farmers& exploited& the& land& to& survive,& many& trees&
were&cut&down.&&This&also&contributed&to&the&weakening&of&the&water&supply,&as&well&as&their&
continued&use&of&pesticides&and&herbicides.&&The&introduction&of&cattle&and&pigs&to&the&local&
economy& also& grew,& the& impact& of& which& is& evident& during& the& rainy& season& when& the&
12
manure& mixes& with& the& ground& water& and& increases& pollution.& & The& Church& through& the&
pastoral&teams&worked&within&the&communities&to&raise&awareness&about&the&pollution&and&
the& dangers& of& drinking& the& water& without& at& least& boiling& it.& & They& and& others& also& shared&
information&and&trained&small&groups&in&organic&agriculture,&searching&for&a&way&to&prosper&
in&harmony&with&the&planet.&&&
&
In& January& and& February& of& 2001& two& earthquakes& again& revealed& the& vulnerability& of& the&
communities.& & Cracks& appeared& in& the& ground,& breaking& the& wells& and& latrines,& further&
compromising& the& quality& of& the& ground& water.& & Many& international& organizations& came& to&
support&us&during&this&time,&principally&to&supply&food&and&potable&water.&&The&Church&called&
attention&to&the&issue&and&through&their&efforts&we&were&able&to&rehabilitate&the&majority&of&
the&wells&–&but&the&water&wasn’t&the&same.&&In&some&areas&it&was&salty,&in&others&it&gave&off&a&
bad& smell.& & This& is& when& many& of& the& communal& organizations,& along& with& the& Church& and&
with& other& nonWgovernmental& organizations& began& to& seriously& lobby& for& a& longWterm&
solution&for&the&communities.&&&
&
The& government& refused& to& help& and& maintained& the& line& that& the& communities& should&
abandon& the& land& and& that& the& land& didn’t& even& meet& minimum& conditions& for& habitation.&&
This&of&course&made&no&sense;&they&were&simply&belying&their&real&interests&in&recuperating&
the&land&for&the&wealthy&families&who&had&produced&cotton&and&sugar&cane&before&the&war.&&
But& for& those& living& here& now,& this& land& was& paid& for& in& the& blood& of& thousands& of&
compañeros&–&and&what’s&more&is&that&it&is&highly&productive&land,&some&of&the&best&in&the&
country.&&&
&
So& during& this& time& each& community& began& meeting& and& discussing& the& need& to& bring&
adequate&water&to&the&communities.&The&Ministry&of&Health&came&and&did&studies&and&found&
high& levels& of& chemicals& and& other& pollutants& and& declared& it& inadequate& for& human&
consumption.& & They& recommended& that& the& water& be& brought& from& higher& land;& land& that&
hadn’t&been&subjected&to&years&of&cotton&cultivation.&&&
&
By&the&end&of&2001&the&idea&began&coming&together&to&initiate&an&autonomous&water&project,&
independent&of&the&government&and&run&by&the&communities&themselves.&In&the&beginning,&
many& NGOs& proposed& building& large& cisterns& where& people& could& come& to& collect& water.&&
Upon& reflection& it& was& agreed& to& reWorientate& the& project& and& deliver& the& water& to& each&
home.& That& way,& each& family& participating& became& a& member& of& the& project& and& would&
commit&to&a&certain&amount&of&time&and&labour&to&dig&and&lay&the&piping.&&&
&
Some&communities&never&believed&a&project&of&this&magnitude&would&come&to&fruition&and&
decided&not&to&participate&in&the&process,&but&later&incorporated&themselves&when&they&saw&
the&work&underway.&&The&Church&also&undertook&an&immense&campaign&to&raise&awareness&
among&the&communities,&but&some&families&remained&unconvinced&of&the&need&for&a&water&
project.&&For&them&it&seemed&like&a&lot&of&work&for&water,&but&what&they&didn’t&realize&was&
that&the&water&they&already&had&was&slowly&poisoning&them.&&&
&
By&December&of&2002&the&dream&of&so&many&became&a&reality.&&The&vital&liquid&began&flowing&
into& the& homes& of& those& who& had& worked& so& hard& –& but& at& the& same& time& this& was& a& hard&
blow&for&the&families&who&hadn’t&believed&in&the&project.&&For&these&cases&the&association’s&
board&established&terms&for&new&families&to&acquire&access&to&the&water.&
&
Seven&years&later&the&majority&of&the&communities&in&the&Lower&Lempa&have&direct&access&to&
water& and& the& standards& of& living& for& these& families& have& risen& considerably.& & Levels& of&
13
sickness&have&reduced&dramatically,&especially&among&children.&&Unfortunately&the&mortality&
rate& among& elderly& has& increased,& perhaps& due& to& the& years& they& were& forced& to& consume&
contaminated&water.&&This&is&most&notable&in&the&rates&of&kidney&insufficiency.&&The&Church&
did&a&study&in&the&communities&and&they&found&a&45%&rate&of&this&illness.&&&
&
Also,& since& the& project& began& we& have& worked& very& hard& through& different& sectors& such& as&
the&Church&and&youth&groups,&to&educate&the&communities&about&the&appropriate&use&of&the&
water.& & It& is& important& for& the& water& to& be& reserved& for& human& consumption& and& not& for&
irrigation&or&other&secondary&needs&that&can&still&use&well&water.&&We&teach&healthy&hygienic&
practices& for& storing& and& using& water,& water& rationing& and& responsibility,& etc.& so& that& this&
resource&of&life&continues&into&future&generations&in&our&communities.&&&
&
&
&
!
4.!The!Australian!Catholic!Bishops’!response!to!the!call!for!Ecological!
Conversion!and!Ecological!Vocations!
CHRISTIANITY.!Jacqui!Remond!and!Megan!Seneque,!Catholic!Earthcare!
Australia!
Introduction!
!
Those&of&us&who&live&in&towns&and&cities&are&called&to&take&real&responsibility&for&our&use&of&
the&precious&gift&of&water.&We&propose&a&vision&of&our&families&and&our&Catholic&schools&as&
places&where&children&grow&up&with&an&understanding&of&the&beautiful&and&ancient&place&we&
inhabit,&knowing&the&issues&that&confront&us&with&regard&to&fresh&water,&and&learning&deep&
respect&for&God’s&gift&of&water.&This&vision&would&challenge&our&behaviour&in&the&use&of&water&
for& such& things& as& lawns,& gardens,& showers,& swimming& pools,& and& car& washing.& It& would&
suggest& alternative& practices,& such& as& native& gardens,& rainwater& tanks,& waterWconserving&
bathroom& and& toilet& fixtures,& and& the& prudent& use& of& storm& water,& groundwater& and&
wastewater.& We& need& to& model& respect& for& the& gift& of& water& in& our& church& and& school&
buildings&and&gardens&as&well&as&in&our&individual&homes.&
&
Learning& respect& for& the& rivers& and& groundwater& for& the& water& we& use& will& involve& turning&
from&old&ways&and&taking&up&new&ways.&It&will&be&part&of&the&ecological%conversion&to&which&
human& beings& of& the& twentyWfirst& century& are& called.1& Responding& to& this& call& is& one& of& the&
great& challenges& facing& the& Christian& community& and& the& wider& human& community& of& the&
twentyWfirst& century.& We& all& have& much& to& learn& from& those& who& have& been& committed& to&
the& wellbeing& of& creation.& They& have& already& long& been& learning& what& it& is& to& live& their&
ecological%vocation.2&We&believe&that&all&of&us&in&the&Christian&community&are&called&by&God&
to&discover&and&to&live&our&own&form&of&ecological&vocation.&
1
&This&is&an&expression&that&the&late&Pope&John&Paul&II&used&in&his&general&Audience&Address,&17&January&
2001,&and&taken&up&by&the&Australian&Catholic&Bishops’&2002&Social&Justice&Statement&A%New%Earth:%
The%Environmental%Challenge&and&this&theme&has&been&adopted&by&Catholic&Earthcare&Australia.&
2
&This&phrase&was&used&by&the&late&Pope&John&Paul&II&in&his&address&given&at&the&Angelus,&Castel&
Gandolfo,&Sunday&25&August&2002.&
14
&
In&this&paper&we&outline&the&work&of&Catholic&Earthcare&Australia&as&the&Australian&Catholic&
Bishops’& response& to& papal& teachings& that& call& humans& to& respect& the& integrity& of& other&
creatures,&the&integrity&of&ecological&systems,&and&a&‘human&ecology’.&We&then&outline&these&
teachings&and&the&scriptural&understandings&that&underpin&them.&
!
Educational!Materials!
!
Catholic& Earthcare& Australia& has& responded& to& the& call& for& ecological& conversion& and&
increasing& young& peoples’& awareness& of& environmental/water& issues& in& Catholic& schools& in&
Australia& by& providing& a& variety& of& resources.& In& 2002,& a& DVD& entitled,& The% Garden% Planet,&
was& distributed& to& every& Catholic& school& in& Australia& (1,697)& and& every& Catholic& Parish&
(1,358).&In&the&film&Bishop&Chris&Toohey,&Chair&of&Catholic&Earthcare&Australia,&says&that&our&
rivers& are& ‘a& limited& resource.& I& believe& that& God& has& given& us& a& stewardship& role& for& this&
resource….&We&can’t&be&users&and&not&give&back,&otherwise&these&rivers&will&die.’&&
&
In&2003,&a&CDWRom&called&Freshwater%is%Sacred%Water&was&produced.&The&CDWRom&contains&a&
40Wminute& interactive& multiWmedia& program& that& enables& students& to& learn& about& the&
theology& and& science& of& water,& including& the& availability& of& freshwater& on& Earth,& the& water&
cycle,& the& relationship& between& life& and& freshwater,& how& water& is& stored& and& used& in&
Australia,&water&pollution&and&water&conservation.&&
&
In&2004,&Catholic&Earthcare&Australia&launched&a&statement&in&the&form&of&a&booklet&entitled&
The%Gift%of%Water.&This&statement&has&been&endorsed&by&the&Bishops&of&the&MurrayWDarling&
Basin&and&focuses&on&the&significance&of&this&mighty&Australian&river&system,&which&supplies&
water&to&Australia’s&largest&food&bowl.&The%Gift%of%Water&was&launched&on&a&paddle&steamer&
at&Echuca,&on&the&MurrayWDarling&River&with&students&from&St&Mary’s&Primary&school&and&St&
Joseph’s& College& secondary& school.& Students& participated& in& a& creative& water& liturgy,& which&
has&been&captured&in&part&in&a&DVD&entitled&Francis&by&the&Franciscan&Friars&in&Australia.&
&
The!ASSISI!initiative!
&
Catholic& Earthcare’s& most& recent& resource& is& a& sustainability& initiative,& called& ASSISI.& The&
acronym& (and& how& appropriate& it& is& only& became& apparent& after& the& concepts& had& been&
distilled)&reflects&commitment&to&a&particular&kind&of&social&process,&with&particular&kinds&of&
outcomes.& Any& response& to& the& call& for& ecological& conversion& and& ecological& sustainability&
would&need&to&be&strategic!in&the&sense&that&all&projects&are&linked&to&the&strategic&intent&of&
individual&organisations.&It&would&need&to&be&systemsYbased!in&the&sense&that&it&involves&the&
whole&organisation&and&the&broader&community&(ecosystem)&of&which&it&forms&a&part.&It&also&
involves& all& aspects& of& organisational& activity,& in& a& participatory& process& (reflecting& systems&
thinking).&Integration&is&a&feature,&both&in&the&sense&that&ecological&content&and&values&are&
integral& to& the& initiative,& and& in& the& sense& that& ecological,& theological,& technical& and&
educational& perspectives& are& integrated& through& a& focus& on& an& ecological& sustainability!
initiative.!
&
ASSISI& intentionally& works& with& organisations& to& constitute& a& ‘learning& community’,& and&
engages& with& the& broader& community& of& which& the& organisation& is& a& part,& to& build&
sustainable&communities.&ASSISI&does&not&come&with&‘solutions’&to&ecological&sustainability,&
but& rather& provides& the& learning& infrastructure& for& schools,& organisation,& church& agencies&
and& congregations,& and& the& broader& community,& to& come& to& understand& the& critical& issues&
facing& them& and& how& they& might& address& them& together.& This& means& that& while& each&
15
learning&community&will&be&the&embodiment&of&a&common&pattern,&each&will&also&be&unique.&
In&this&way,&ASSISI&seeks&to&integrate&work&and&learning,&and&honour&the&two&key&principles&
of&learning,&namely&that&it&is&contextual&and&that&it&is&social.&&
&
The&commitment&to&these&learning&principles&is&exemplified&by&the&passionWbuilding&program&
in&schools,&which&is&part&of&ASSISI.&The&passionWbuilding&program&engages&the&entire&school&
community& –& pupils,& teachers& and& parents& –& in& a& competition& around& ecological&
sustainability.& Pupils& are& encouraged& to& submit& art,& music,& prose,& film& or& photographs&
(amongst&other&media),&reflecting&ecological&issues&and&concerns&to&enhance&their&ecological&
literacy.&Issues&are&further&explored&in&the&context&of&the&curriculum&and&other&activities.&&
&
In&the&spirit&of&building&learning&communities,&Catholic&Earthcare&provides&the&principles&and&
infrastructure& for& the& activity,& which& is& then& lead& by& the& pupils,& supported& by& the& principal&
and&teachers&(including&the&final&celebratory&event,&to&which&parents&are&invited),&thus&giving&
the&program&a&unique&contextual&flavour.&In&this&way,&passion&is&built&not&only&amongst&the&
students& who& submit& entries& to& the& competition,& but& the& entire& school& community.& In& this&
way&the&wall&between&the&school&and&broader&community&becomes&more&permeable&and&is&
crossed&frequently.&
&
Catholic& Earthcare& is& piloting& ASSISI& in& 18& Catholic& schools& in& the& Sydney& diocese.& What&
follows& is& a& brief& account& of& the& passionWbuilding& program& at& St& Francis& Xavier’s,& a& primary&
school&in&Sydney’s&inner&west&with&295&pupils&and&36&staff.&The&photographs&of&entries&and&
pictures& of& the& celebratory& event& show& how& other& modes& of& meaning& making& offer& many&
opportunities&for&pupils&to&build&their&knowledge,&and&to&represent&and&communicate&it,&in&
ways& that& engage& audiences& and& send& powerful& messages& out& into& the& world.& 200& parents&
and&pupils&attended&the&celebration,&which&was&lead&by&the&student&leadership&team&(Year&6&
class),&supported&by&the&Principal&and&Teachers.&
&
This& bringing& together& of& literacy& and& environment& has& been& termed& a& ‘placeWbased&
pedagogy’&or&a&‘pedagogy&of&responsibility’,&which&builds&ecological&relationships.&&When&this&
awareness& raising& is& accompanied& by& learning& and& inquiry& in& the& context& of& the& local&
environment,& an& ‘ecoWethical’& consciousness& is& developed.& “For& any& action& to& be& ethical,& it&
must&always&begin&from&a&consideration&of&the&lifeworld&rather&than&the&self”&(Comber&et&al&
2007:15).! Throughout& their& schooling& at& St& Francis& Xavier’s& pupils& are& given& firstWhand&
opportunities&for&understanding&‘river&health’&and&learning&to&‘read’&their&local&waterway&by&
regularly&applying&various&kinds&of&scientific&tests&and&measures&and&documenting&the&health&
of&their&waterway.&&
&
At& St& Catherine’s& Primary& School& Stirling& in& South& Australia& each& student& takes& part& in&
activities&to&look&after&the&wetlands&on&their&school&site.&The&school&property&once&belonged&
to&the&Dominican&Order&so&it&is&no&coincidence&that&this&school&is&showing&signs&of&leadership&
in&cultivating&and&caring&for&Earth.&Each&classroom&has&a&Bokashi&compost&bin&and&each&class&
is&responsible&for&looking&after&one&ecological&aspect&at&the&school,&such&as&Year&2&tending&to&
the& worm& farms.& The& vision& for& the& school& includes& having& an& outdoor& classroom& in& the&
wetlands&and&incorporating&ecology&into&every&aspect&of&the&students’&education.&
&
Assisi& Catholic& College& is& a& primary& and& secondary& school& located& in& Queensland,& in& the&
Diocese& of& Brisbane.& The& local& council& is& working& closely& with& the& school& to& realise& its&
strategic& plan& for& delivering& recycled& water& to& all& properties& in& the& region& and& providing&
water&sensitive&urban&design&for&storm&water&management.&The&school&curriculum&has&been&
developed&to&incorporate&placeWbased&pedagogy&and&ecological&sustainability.&For&example,&
16
Year& 11& students& study& the& lake& water,& which& is& located& on& their& school& site.& This& schools’&
ecological&focus&comes&from&being&part&of&the&St&Francis&of&Assisi&tradition.&
&
Context!
!
As&the&driest&inhabited&continent&on&earth,&Australia&experiences&severe&drought&and&water&
shortages& and& is& vulnerable& to& the& effects& of& climate& change.& Current& research& on& the&
relationship& between& humans& and& water& points& to& the& challenge& of& our& time:& to& recover& a&
‘fuller,&more&sensitive&and&civilising&relationship&with&water’3.&&We&are&reminded&that&many&
of& the& world’s& civilisations& can& attest& that& the& very& act& of& reducing& water& uncertainty& by&
technical& means& (capture,& storage& and& irrigation)& has& ultimately& led& to& ‘greater& uncertainty&
and& civilisation& failure’.& The& sacred& and& living& relationship& of& water& with& humans,& one&
associated& with& health& and& purity,& has& been& replaced& by& a& relationship& of& control.& This&
invitation&to&a&change&in&worldview&that&comes&from&within&science,&one&that&calls&humans&to&
live& with& water& as& a& complex& entity& rather& than& a& commodity,& is& supported& by& current&
theology.&
&
The& Australian& Catholic& theologian& Denis& Edwards& talks& about& a& ‘relational& ontology’& as&
foundational&to&a&worldview&which&sees&human&persons&and&all&other&creatures&as&‘radically&
interrelational&and&interdependent’;&a&worldview&which&recognises&that&“entities&emerge&in&
our&universe&in&patterns&of&interrelationship.&Things&are&constituted&by&relationships....&And&
this&world&of&interrelating&entities&can&be&thought&of&as&emerging&from&within&the&dynamic&
relations&of&the&Trinitarian&God.&&
&
The&interrelatedness&that&ecologists&find&in&the&biosphere&on&Earth&and&the&interrelatedness&
that&science&discovers&at&all&levels&from&quantum&physics&to&cosmology&are&all&sustained&at&
every&moment&by&a&God&who&is&PersonsWin&communion.&Our&interrelated&universe,&with&all&its&
diverse& creatures,& emerges& from& the& embrace& of& the& divine& communion& in& love.& This& gives&
unthinkable&depth&to&the&importance&of&ecological&interrelationships”.4&It&also&provides&the&
conceptual&framework&for&the&work&of&Catholic&Earthcare&Australia&(Denis&Edwards&has&been&
advisor&to&Earthcare&since&its&inception&in&2002).&
&
Scriptural!understandings!
!
Jesus& belonged& to& a& people& who& knew& about& deserts& and& drought,& and& who& loved& moving,&
living&water.&They&saw&running&water&as&a&blessing&from&God&and&as&a&symbol&of&life.&It&was&
not&taken&for&granted.&They&saw&it&as&a&precious&gift.&For&them,&a&spring&of&living&water&was&a&
beautiful& image& for& the& life& that& God& gives& us& (Is& 12:3;& 55:1;& Jer& 2:13;& Ps& 46:4;& Ez& 47:1W20;&
Zech&14:8;&Rev&22:1W2).&&
&
They&thought&of&God’s&presence&and&revelation,&which&they&often&described&as&the&Wisdom&
of&God,&as&like&a&lifeWgiving&fountain&of&living&water&(Prov&13:14;&Sir&15:3;&24:23W29).&In&John’s&
Gospel,&Jesus,&hot&and&tired&after&his&journey,&sits&by&a&well.&He&asks&a&Samaritan&woman&for&a&
drink.& Then& he& engages& with& her& in& a& long& conversation& about& the& things& of& God.& Later& we&
hear& that& his& disciples& find& this& conversation& astonishing& (4:27).& At& the& heart& of& this&
encounter,&Jesus&offers&the&woman&living&water:&&
3
&Bruce&Simmons,&Robert&Woog,&Vladimir&Dimitrov&(2007)&World%futures&63,&275W285&&“Living&on&the&
Edge:&a&complexityWinformed&exploration&of&the&humanWwater&relationship”&
4
&Denis&Edwards&(2006)&Ecology%at%the%Heart%of%Faith&
17
&
Everyone$who$drinks$of$this$water$will$be$thirsty$again,$but$those$who$drink$of$the$water$
that$I$will$give$them$will$never$be$thirsty.$The$water$that$I$will$give$will$become$in$them$a$
spring$of$water$gushing$up$to$eternal$life.$(4:13H14)%
&
Later,&at&the&feast&of&Tabernacles&in&Jerusalem,&Jesus&cries&out:&&
&
Let$ anyone$ who$ is$ thirsty$ come$ to$ me,$ and$ let$ the$ one$ who$ believes$ in$ me$ drink.$ As$ the$
scripture$has$said$‘Out$of$the$believer’s$heart$shall$flow$rivers$of$living$water.’$(7:38)%
%
The&author&of&the&gospel&explains&that&this&living&water&is&the&Spirit&of&God,&the&Spirit&that&will&
be& poured& out& through& Jesus’& lifeWgiving& death& and& resurrection& (7:39).& For& John’s& Gospel,&
and&for&all&later&Christians,&living&water&is&a&sign&of&the&Holy&Spirit,&a&sign&of&our&baptismal&life&
in&Christ,&a&sign&of&the&life&of&God&in&us.5&&
St&Francis&of&Assisi&saw&all&of&God’s&creatures&as&interconnected&in&a&family&of&creation.&For&St&
Francis,&other&creatures&are&in&kinship&with&human&beings,&brothers&and&sisters&to&us.&In&his&
Canticle,&he&speaks&of&water&as&“Sister&Water,”&and&celebrates&it&as&beautiful,&clear&and&pure&
and& essential& to& our& existence.& Science& also& tells& us& that& our& lives& and& those& of& all& other&
creatures&on&our&planet&are&totally&dependent&upon&clear&and&pure&water.&&
&
We&need&a&renewed&spirituality&of&water&that&recognises&its&centrality&for&all&life.&We&need&to&
treasure&it&as&the&lifeWgiving&gift&of&God&and&as&a&beautiful&sign&of&the&life&of&God&in&us.&“Every&
organism,& every& species,& every& ecosystem& is& the& selfWexpression& of& the& dynamic& Trinitarian&
life,& a& sign& of& the& divine& presence.& The& biotic& community& of& a& rain& forest,& a& wetland& or& a&
household& garden& is& the& work& of& art& of& divine& Wisdom...Resisting& ecological& conversion& is,&
theologically,&resistance&to&the&Incarnation”6&
&
Catholic!social!teaching!and!papal!teachings!
!
While&the&Bible&tells&us&that&God&entrusts&the&natural&world&to&human&beings&(Gen&1:26),&this&
is&not&to&be&interpreted&in&an&unlimited&or&unprincipled&way.&According&to&the&social&teaching&
of&the&church,&human&beings&have&moral&duties&towards&the&natural&world.&They&do&not&have&
absolute&rights&over&nature.&The&late&Pope&John&Paul&II&taught&that&human&beings&have&GodW
given&responsibilities&towards&other&creatures.&We&cannot&simply&do&what&we&like&with&the&
natural&world.&&
&
We& are& called& to& respect& the& integrity& of& other& creatures& and& the& integrity& of& ecological&
systems.&The&late&Pope&John&Paul&II&insisted&that&we&are&constrained&not&only&by& biological%
laws&but&also&by&moral%laws.7&This&would&mean&that&we&are&morally&responsible&before&God&
for&our&actions&in&relation&to&water.&It&would&mean&that&the&use&of&the&gift&of&water,&whether&
on&farms&or&in&towns&and&cities,&is&a&matter&of&conscience,&of&right&and&wrong&action&before&
God.&&
&
5
&Catholic&Earthcare&Australia,&The%Gift%of%Water&(2004)&
6
&Denis&Edwards&in&his&foreword&to&Care%for%Creation:%a%Franciscan%spirituality%of%the%earth%(2007)&
7
&Sollicitudo%Rei%Socialis:%On%Social%Concerns&(Homebush,&NSW:&St&Paul&Publications,&1988),&par.&34,&
p.74.&
18
One& of& the& key& principles& the& late& Pope& John& Paul& II& offered& for& moral& action& is& that& “we&
cannot& interfere& in& one& area& of& the& ecosystem& without& paying& due& attention& both& to& the&
consequences& of& such& interference& in& other& areas& and& to& the& wellbeing& of& future&
generations.”8& We& have& to& take& into& account& the& common& good.& Applying& this& to& water&
catchments& would& mean& that& those& involved& in& using& water& from& one& part& of& the& system&
need& to& be& mindful& of& the& good& of& the& whole& system.& This& includes& the& good& health& of&
groundwater,& rivers,& lakes,& their& plants,& fish,& animals& and& birds,& and& all& the& human& beings&
that&depend&upon&the&health&of&freshwater,&now&and&into&the&future.&&
&
In& the& case& of& a& river& system& it& would& mean& that& those& making& decisions& about& storing& or&
extracting& water& upstream& are& morally& required& to& take& into& account& the& needs& of& those&
downstream.& In& the& case& of& water& being& drawn& from& groundwater& sources& it& would& mean&
that&those&making&decisions&about&extracting&water&from&an&aquifer&are&morally&required&to&
take& into& account& the& rate& of& replacement& through& rainfall& so& that& the& needs& of& future&
generations&will&be&met.&
&
Ecology&involves&respectful&relations&with&human&beings&as&well&as&with&other&creatures.&The&
late& Pope& John& Paul& II& called& this& “human& ecology.”& He& wrote,& for& example:& “It& is& the&
ecological%question%–&ranging&from&the&preservation&of&the&natural&habitats&of&the&different&
species&of&animals&and&of&other&forms&of&life&to&‘human&ecology’&properly&speaking&–&which&
finds&in&the&Bible&clear&and&strong&ethical&direction,&leading&to&a&solution&which&respects&the&
great&good&of&life,&of&every&life.”9&A&vision&of&all&water&catchments&founded&upon&this&notion&
of&human&ecology&would&involve&strong&support&for&the&dignity&of&human&persons,&for&family&
and& for& communal& life,& within& the& context& of& respect& for& the& land,& the& rivers,& the& fish,& the&
animals,&the&birds,&the&trees&and&the&shrubs&of&our&water&systems.&&&
&
Jacqui! Remond! is! Director! of! Catholic! Earthcare! Australia.! Megan! Seneque! is! Catholic!
Earthcare!Australia’s!Program!Design!and!Facilitator!
5.!Faith!and!Water!Y!a!Christian!Perspective!
CHRISTIANITY.!Mary!Grey,!St!Mary’s!University!College,!Twickenham,!UK!
!
Relating!to!waterY!here!and!abroad!
!
My&relationship&with&water&starts&at&home,&with&the&clear,&flowing&water&outside&the&door,&
the& chalk& streams& of& the& River& Test& that& journeys& on& into& Southampton& Water.& It& is& a&
relationship&nourished&by&the&central&place&that&Christian&faith&gives&to&the&principle,&“water&
gives&life.”&But&that&relationship&takes&on&greater&urgency&when&I&am&journeying&through&the&
droughtWprone& state& of& Rajasthan,& India,& as& I& have& been& for& more& than& 20& years,& with& the&
8
&Peace%with%God%the%Creator;%Peace%with%All%of%Creation&(Homebush,&NSW:&St&Paul&Publications,&1990),&
p.5&
9
&The&Gospel&of&Life:&Evangelium&Vitae&(Homebush,&NSW:&St&Pauls,&1995),&par.&42,&p.&80.&
19
Charity& Wells% for% India,& that& I& helped& to& found.10& There& I& am& continually& struck& by& the&
relationship&between&water&and&life.&&
&
Rajasthan&is&one&of&the&poorest&states&of&India&and&the&women&of&Rajasthan&suffer&from&birth&
to& death.& The& girl& child& is& not& welcomed& here:& boys& are& wanted& to& take& over& family& farms.&
Women’s& lives& are& haunted& by& the& search& for& water,& as& they& are& forced& to& walk& everW
increasing&distances&in&search&of&it,&when&wells&dry&up.&There&is&no&aspect&of&life&that&is&not&
affected:&health&is&seriously&damaged&by&waterWrelated&diseases,&women&are&90%&anaemic&as&
diet& is& so& poor,& there& is& a& high& degree& of& both& infant& and& maternal& mortality,& agriculture&
becomes& almost& impossible& in& a& drought& causing& hunger& in& both& people& and& animals.& Men&
migrate& in& search& of& work& and& because& income& is& so& low,& women& are& left& to& look& after&
villages;& the& debt& to& the& moneylender& rises& to& an& impossible& level.& So& how& can& Christianity&
have&any&helpful&message&here?&&
&
The&village&people&of&rural&Rajasthan&in&these&remote&areas&are&a&mixture&of&tribal,&Scheduled&
and& Unscheduled& castes,& including& Dalits,& (or& former& Untouchables),& their& religions& being& a&
mixture& of& Hinduism,& Islam,& tribal& and& sometimes& Jainism& or& Sikhism.& Our& partners& are&
influenced& by& Gandhi& and& his& focus& on& the& poorest& people.& What& brought& Christian& faith&
central& for& our& group& was,& early& one& morning,& at& prayer& in& an& Ashram& in& the& Thar& Desert,&
when& our& Gandhian& leader,& (who,& sadly,& has& now,& died)& Lakshmi& Tyagi,& paused& and& said& to&
us:&“normally&we&now&have&the&teachings&of&Gandhi&to&inspire&us:&because&you&are&here,&let&
us&have&the&teachings&of&Jesus!”&&&
&
Surprised!by!the!teaching!of!Jesus!
!
Surprised& and& challenged,& with& no& time& for& preparation,& I& found& myself& telling& of& the&
prophecies&that&if&we&turned&to&God,&water&would&spring&up&in&the&desert&and&trees&would&
grow& (Isaiah);& of& the& sacredness& of& water& in& the& time& of& Jesus& and& how& he& had& used& it& to&
express& messages& of& repentance& and& rebirth& (through& the& sacrament& of& Baptism),& healing,&
and& renewal.& The& fact& that& Jesus& worked& with& poor,& often& landless& people,& made& an&
immediate&link&with&these&communities,&struggling&to&make&a&living&on&the&land.&I&told&them&
that&Gandhi&himself&was&very&influenced&by&the&Sermon&on&the&Mount&(Matthew&5&and&Luke&
6),& and& how& that& was& being& dramatically& lived& out& by& the& way& their& own& Field& Workers&
worked&for&dignity&and&water&security&with&the&poorest&and&most&vulnerable&people.&&
&
And&dignity&and&water&security&inspire&what&we&do&in&these&areas.&We&see&the&truth&of&the&
Christian&principle&“water&gives&life”&as&things&do&change&in&the&villages.&We&do&not&build&new&
wells&–&except&where&this&is&the&only&solution&–&but&practise&“water&harvesting”&or&conserving&
monsoon& water& by& traditional& methods,& or& “the& ancient& wisdom& of& the& desert& peoples”,11&
something& akin& to& the& lives& of& the& people& of& the& Bible.& With& the& building& of& water& storage&
tanks&–&with&a&catchment&to&allow&water&to&percolate&into&the&tank&–&the&fear&of&having&no&
water& is& removed.& Women& are& enabled& to& wash,& with& immediate& effects& on& health& and&
hygiene.& The& psychological& burden& of& the& weary& daily& search& for& water& is& removed& for&
themselves& and& their& daughters,& so& attention& to& health,& education& and& income& generation&
becomes&possible.&&
10
&See&www.wellsforindia.org&
&
11
&The&phrase&is&that&of&the&late&Dr&Anil&Agarwal,&founder&of&the&Centre&for&Science&and&the&Environment,&Delhi.&&
20
Hygiene&is&tackled&in&other&ways&too.&Most&of&these&houses&have&no&kind&of&toilet,&so&
wherever&possible&bathroom/toilets&are&constructed.&There&has&to&be&an&education&
programme&alongside&this,&as&women&are&long&accustomed&to&walking&outside&the&village&for&
defecation.&They&do&not&automatically&want&to&lose&this&opportunity&of&socialising&with&each&
other.&Nor&do&children&have&much&socialising&in&using&toilets.
Picture:&A&woman&from&the&Thar&Desert&with&her&family&on&a&taanka&catchment:&her&husband&
is&disabled.&A&taanka&is&water&storage&tank&that&can&hold&up&to&20,000&litres.&
&
Most& important& is& that& where& we& construct& kindergartens& or& primary& schools& –& we& have&
eight&in&the&Thar&Desert&W&these&will&also&have&latrines.&(These&consume&very&little&water).&This&
is& most& important& for& girls,& who& find& it& difficult& to& attend& school& where& there& is& no& toilet&
provision,& especially& at& times& of& menstruation.& An& issue& that& has& arisen& is& that& when& the&
school& is& handed& back& to& the& responsibility& of& the& Government& (as& is& our& hope)& there& is& a&
maintenance& issue& for& the& latrines.& If& Dalits& are& to& be& liberated& from& cleaning& toilets& (their&
traditional& task)& who& will& then& take& this& over?& This& is& a& disputed& issue.& Along& with& this&
provision&is&roof&water&harvesting&–&this&is&installed&wherever&there&are&suitable&roofsW&where&
the&water&is&channelled&down&into&a&water&storage&tank.&Children&can&see&the&importance&of&
water,& and& valuing& water& along& with& caring& for& trees& are& values& built& into& their& school&
curriculum.&&
&
In&other&areas,&like&the&Aravali&Hills,&the&focus&is&more&on&plugging&gullies&of&the&streams&that&
flow&from&the&top&of&the&mountains&with&small&interventions&like&loose&stone&check&dams&and&
eventually& anicuts,& or& small& dams..& If& the& water& can& be& halted& form& flowing& away& to& flood&
elsewhere,&ground&water&can&be&recharged&and&wells&will&be&refilled&from&below.&&
How!does!Christian!faith!inspire!this!work?&
&
Because& of& the& gravity& of& the& ecological& crisis& and& the& part& Christianity& has& played& in& this&
damage&through&undervaluing&creation&and&even&using&Scripture&to&justify&exploitation,&we&
are& now& mining& the& tradition& for& resources& to& sustain& our& quest& for& good& practice.& When& I&
see&a&river&regenerated&in&the&Aravali&Hills,&south&of&Rajasthan,&after&years&of&practising&water&
harvesting&along&a&streambed,&from&the&top&of&the&mountain&to&the&valley,&I&think&again&of&
the&prophet&Isaiah’s&words&that&waters&would&gush&in&the&desert.&&
&
21
When& I& see& the& struggle& for& water& and& basic& human& rights& I& remember& the& earliest& Bible&
creation&stories&(Genesis&1&and&2),&in&a&context&where&poor&farmers&struggle&for&a&livelihood&
on& inhospitable& land& with& frequent& droughts& and& how& the& vision& of& sacredness& of& water& is&
offered& for& all;& that& all& created& things& W& sun,& moon,& stars,& plants,& animals,& seas,& water& and&
rivers,& together& with& humans& are& in& a& interconnected,& with& human& beings& bearing&
responsibility&for&their&wellbeing.&&
&
Even& if& this& symbiosis& was& destroyed& by& human& exploitation& of& the& earth& and& Scripture&
stories& tell& of& the& Great& Flood& (we& know& this& occurred& throughout& the& Ancient& Near& East)&
that&almost&destroyed&the&whole&earth&and&its&people.&Through&the&Rainbow&Covenant&God&
promised&that&this&would&never&occur&again.&So&the&vision&of&prophets&like&Isaiah&calls&us&back&
to& a& vision& of& Shalom& (Peace)& where& both& human& beings& and& nature& are& restored& to& well&
being.
&
Picture:&The&river&Gomati&is&regenerated.&
ChristianityY!inspired!by!a!new!ethic!
&
In& the& context& of& the& ecological& crisis& and& of& climate& change& Christianity& is& now& trying& to&
make&up&for&the&neglect&and&exploitation&of&centuries.&Some&Christian&communities&W&notably&
the&Orthodox&Church&W&have&taken&a&lead.&&The&Catholic&Church&recognises&that&there&is&such&
a&thing&as&ecological%sin.&Although&the&Vatican&documents&do&not&address&water&specifically,&
many& documents& condemn& economic& policies& exploiting& poor& people,& (especially& through&
global& capitalism)& and& gradually& there& has& been& awakening& to& the& need& for& repentance&
against&exploitation&of&the&environment.&But&recently&Pope&Benedict&XVI&made&an&important&
statement& on& water& and& its& use:& he& calls& for& solidarity& and& responsibility& in& national& and&
international& policies& on& water,& saying& water& is& a& right& and& profit& should& not& be& the& only&
reason&to&protect&it.&There&is&a&"right&to&water,"&based&on&the&dignity&of&the&human&person,&
and&it&is&not&simply&an&"economic&good,"&the&Pope&affirmed&in&a&message&to&the&international&
exposition&on&"Water&and&Sustainable&Development,"&under&way&in&Zaragoza,&Spain,&on&July&
15th&2008.&
&
Because&of&the&[…]&pressure&of&multiple&social&and&economic&factors,&we&must&be&conscious&
of&the&fact&that&today&"water&must&be&considered&a&good&that&must&be&especially&protected&
through&clear&national&and&international&policies,&and&used&according&to&sensible&criteria&of&
solidarity&and&responsibility,"&the&Pope&exhorted.&
22
12
&&
The& use& of& water,& he& continued,& which& is& regarded& as& a& universal& and& inalienable& right,& is&
related& to& the& growing& and& urgent& needs& of& people& who& live& in& destitution,& taking& into&
account&the&fact&that&limited&access&to&potable&water&has&repercussions&on&the&wellbeing&of&
an& enormous& number& of& people& and& is& often& the& cause& of& illnesses,& sufferings,& conflicts,&
poverty&and&even&death.&
&
He& stressed& that& the& right& to& water& "a& right& that& is& based& on& the& dignity& of& the& human&
person."& It& is& "from& this& perspective& that& positions& of& those& who& consider& and& treat& water&
only& as& an& economic& good& must& be& carefully& examined,"& Benedict& XVI continued:& "Its& use&
must&be&rational...the&fruit&of&a&balanced&synergy&between&the&public&and&private&sector."&
This& is& a& very& key& statement.& In& means& that& both& Christianity& and& Judaism& offer& a& view& of&
water& as& sacred& and& GodWgiven& but& also& relate& it& to& human& rights& and& the& dignity& of& the&
human&person.&&
&
From!the!Sacredness!of!Water!to!an!Ethic!of!waterYuse!
!
The&life&of&the&people&of&the&Bible&lands&still&testifies&to&this,&even&if&the&political&situation&is&
making&water&distribution&a&disputed&issue&of&injustice.&As&I&see&in&Rajasthan&how,&if&the&well&
dries& up,& this& impacts& on& social& life,& Jesus& experienced& water& at& the& heart& of& the& social&
context,&for&example,&of&meeting&at&the&well&or&by&the&pool,&or&by&the&lake&or&Sea&of&Galilee.&
He& used& the& need& for& water& for& life& itself& to& express& the& wisdom& of& his& own& ministry:&
Christianity!sees!him!as!living!water,!quenching!humanity’s!thirst!for!new!life.&Water&then&
and& now& is& a& place& of& revelation,& a& place& of& joy.& I% have% seem% Siberian% cranes% enjoying% the%
waters% of% a% pond% in% Rajasthan,% that% has% been% deHsilted,% (again,% a% traditional% method)% and%
women% singing% and% dancing% in% gratitude% for% water% flowing.& & Christian& tradition& in& Britain&
draws& on& the& thousands& of& wells& regarded& as& sacred& and& often& under& the& protection& of& a&
saint,&like&St&David,&St&Winifred&or,&in&Ireland,&St&Brigid.&
&
Christianity& also& offers& an& ethic& and& discipline& of& valuing& water,& along& with& other& created&
realities.&The&discipline&of&simplicity,&of&moderation&and&justice&should&act&as&a&brake&on&overW
use&and&exploitation.&Monastic&movements&like&the&Benedictines&and&Franciscans&are&acting&
prophetically.&Christian&Groups&like&Christian&Ecology&Link&and&EcoWcongregations&in&the&UK,&
as&well&as&some&of&the&World&Council&of&Churches’&programmes,&like&Justice&and&the&Integrity&
of&Creation&(JPIC)&offer&practical&ways&to&put&this&ethic&into&practice.&
&
But&in&addition,&there&is&highly&valued&ethical&framework,&which&can&be&drawn&on,&namely&a&
virtue! ethics! approach& based& on& the& theology& of& the& 12th& century& theologian& St& Thomas&
Aquinas.&Within&this,&the&idea&of&natural&law&is&widened,&to&take&into&account&the&common&
ground&between&human&and&nonWhuman.13&Secondly,&this&is&integrated&this&within&a&virtueW
centred&approach&W&the&virtues&concerned&being&prudence,%justice,%fortitude%and%temperance.&
Prudence& means& the& capacity& to& make& decisions& in& emergency& situations,& to& take& advice&
from&others,&to&have&foresight&in&a&way&that&accurately&anticipates&the&future&insofar&as&it&is&
12
&See&www.zenit.org&
&
13
&Celia Deane Drummond, The Ethics of Nature,( Oxford: Blackwell 2004), pp.41-48
&
23
feasible&to&do&so.&It&is&part&of&wisdom,&a&practical&prudential&knowledge:&specifically&here&it&is&
knowing&how&to&work&in&harmony&with&water’s&regenerative&cycles.&&
&
Fortitude&is&the&capacity&to&stand&firm&in&adversity.&Temperance&–&let&us&rename&it&simplicity&
or& living& within& limits& W& is& particularly& important,& as& the& ordering& of& our& desires& toward& the&
whole&and&as&invoking&moderation&within&the&knowledge&of&nature’s&limits.&How&important&
this&is&in&countries&like&India&where&water&sources&cannot&cope&with&the&demand&of&tourism&
and&western&habits.&Justice&deserves&a&special&focus.&For&Aquinas&it&is&inspired&by&charity,&the&
gift&of&the&Holy&Spirit,&so&it&is&rooted&in&God.&In&Aquinas’s&ability&to&link&the&ordinary&person&
with& the& community& and& global& justice& there& is& a& way& for& justice& to& include& the& selfW
preservation&of&all&life&forms&and&ecoWsystems.&
&
But&how&can&we&persuade&people&of&the&west&and&north&to&act&like&in&moderation,&to&simplify&
in&order&to&live&within&the&limits&of&our&resources,&to&share&resources&with&others?&Here&we&
can&link&with&the&ethics&of&liberation.&The&focus&of&ecological&liberation&ethics&is&on&privileging&
the&poor,&seeking&justice&for&the&poorest&communities,&where&people&and&earth&are&locked&in&
cycles&of&oppression.&NatureH%including%depleted%water%sources%H%are%now%recognised%as%the%
new%category%of%poverty.14&&
&
Rising& sea& levels,& melting& ice& caps,& the& polluted& water& systems& along& with& the& human&
communities&affected&W&have&now&to&be&at&the&centre&of&liberation&struggles.&So&strategies&of&
resistance,& for& example& resisting& large& and& dams& and& largeWscale& interventions& have& to& be&
combined&with&action&for&solidarity&at&local,&national&and&international&level.&The&same&ethic&
must& inspire& personal& lifeWstyle& changes,& such& as& asceticism& and& simplicity& in& water& use,&
practice&of&water&harvesting&at&a&community&level,&working&for&legislation&to&curb&water&use&
in&large&corporations&and&in&agriculture,&insisting&the&need&to&respect&the&limits&of&the&local&
ecosystems&and&so&on.&For&this,&Christian&Churches&must&work&with&scientists,&activists,&NGOs&
and& international& groups& –& the& crisis& demands& no& less.& The& encouraging& sign& is& that& it& is&
beginning&to&do&so.&
&
And&finally,&what&Christianity&offers&is&the&vision&of&water&at&the&centre&of&the&vision&of&the&
New&Heaven&and&the&New&Earth,&a&vision&which&inspires&a&new&ethic&and&discipline&in&the&use&
of&water.&
Then he showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing
from the throne of the God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of
the city; also, on either side of the river, the Tree of Life with its twelve kinds
of fruit, yielding its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree were for the
healing of the nations.
(Revelation, Ch.22, 1-2)
Mary&Grey,&St&Mary’s&University&College,&Twickenham,&UK,&April&2009.&
&
14
&viii.Sallie McFague, The Body of God,(London: SCM Press 1993).
&
24
6.!Hai!district!water!supply!project:!a!model!of!community!rural!water!
supply!initiated!by!a!church!in!Tanzania!
CHRISTIANITY.!Eng.!Rogers!C.!Marandu,!Tanzania!!
This&is&a&shortened&version&of&the&full&paper,&which&can&be&found&on&the&ARC&website:&
http://www.arcworld.org/downloads/WaterWandWaWchurchWinWtanzania.pdf&
Background:!!
&
The& Water& crisis& has& contributed& to& Tanzania& being& one& of& the& world’s& poorest& countries,&
with&many&lives&and&working&hours&lost.&Despite&the&government&recognising&the&issue,&the&
service& of& clean& and& safe& water& is& still& not& good& enough& through& the& country.& The& 2002&
National&census&indicates&that&58%&of&people&in&rural areas&had&no&access&to&clean&drinking&
water.&In&urban&areas&this&figure&is&15%.&This&is&mainly&due&to&inadequate&water&laws,&a&lack&
of& investment& funds& to& invest& in& infrastructure& and& human& skills,& a& socialist& government&
policy&of&free&water&(which&effectively&has&proved&unsustainable)&and&a&centralised&system.&
&
The& Government& is& taking& some& action.& The& 2005& “National& strategy& for& Growth& and&
Reduction& of& poverty”& considers& water& and& sanitation& as& key& factors& in& the& fight& against&
poverty.&One&stated&target&is&to&increase&access&to&safe&clean&and&affordable&water&to&65%&of&
the&population&in&rural&areas&(from&42%)&and&90%&to&urban&areas&(from&85%)&by&2010.&
&
Before&the&start&of&the&project&in&the&Hai&District&there&were&15&deteriorating&water&supply&
schemes& from& the& 1960s& and& 1970s.& Many& people& living& in& the& coffee& banana& areas& were&
fetching& water& from& traditional& irrigation& furrows& contaminated& by& animal/human& waste,&
fertilizers& and& pesticides& while& those& living& in& the& savannahs& were& depending& on& polluted&
river& water.& Resultant& diseases& included& cholera,& typhoid,& diarrhoea,& dysentery,& scabies,&
pinworm,&typhus&and&ascaris.&&
&
However,& on& the& positive& side,& according& to& the& 2002& census,& 94%& of& the& 260,000& people&
living&in&Hai&District&have&access&to&toilet&facilities&W&mostly&pit&latrines,&a&situation&that&comes&
from&people&having&higher&incomes&than&the&natural&average,&due&to&the&fertile&soil&on&the&
slopes& of& Mt.& Kilimanjaro& with& productive& coffee& and& banana& plantations.& Education&
standards& are& also& higher& than& in& other& Districts& in& Tanzania,& meaning& that& this& is& a& good&
place&to&host&a&model&project.&
25
Women&waiting&for&the&inauguration&of&a&new&water&scheme&
&
!
2.0!The!Project:!
&
The&Evangelical&Church&of&Tanzania’s&Northern&Diocese&initiated&the&project&in&1987&with&the&
objective&of&supplying&clean&and&safe&water&to&Bomang’ombe&Township,&which&is&the&capital&
of& Hai& District.& The& church& first& had& to& look& for& donors& and& fortunately& the& German&
Protestant&church&and&the&Government&of&Germany&agreed&to&finance&the&project&in&a&joint&
venture& with& the& Tanzanian& Government.& It& was& therefore& supported& by& four& parties:& two&
churches&and&two&Governments.&Physical&implementation&of&stage&1&started&in&1992&and&was&
completed&in&1996,&at&which&point&the&Governments&agreed&to&continue&with&rehabilitation&
of& existing& water& supply& schemes& to& a& level& of& supplying& up& to& 90%& of& the& population& with&
clean&water&by&2015.&In&2009&the&project&is&in&phase& IVW&2&of&its&implementation&stage&and&
has&been&able&to&supply&242,025&people&with&clean&water.&
&
2.1!The!role!of!the!religious!organisations:!
&
The& greatest& support& from& the& religious& institutions& (both& Christian& and& Muslim)& in& this&
project&were:&
&
To&allow&education&and&awareness&campaigns&to&be&conducted&in&the&church&during&Sundays&
worshiping&hours.&
&
Muslim& leaders& assisted& in& gathering& their& worshipers& together& after& Friday& prayers& to& be&
educated&and&sensitized&about&their&water&project.&
&
The&Evangelical&Lutheran&church&in&TanzaniaW&Northern&Diocese&passed&a&resolution&that&no&
Lutheran&child&will&be&confirmed&unless&he/she&shows&ten&trees&she/he&has&planted.&
&
Religious&leaders&attended&or&participated&in&all&meetings&and&seminars&invited&for&educating,&
sensitization& and& awareness& campaigns& for& their& water& project.& They& educated& their&
community& in& churches& and& mosques& on:W& the& importance& of& voluntary& contributions& of&
labour,& paying& for& water& according& to& consumption,& environmental& sanitation& personal&
hygiene.&
&
2.2!General!Implementation:!
&
The& project& was& implemented& under& a& Steering& Committee& including& the& Kilimanjaro&
Regional&Commissioner&as&chairman&and&the&coWchairman&is&the&Dr.&Erasto&N.&Kweka,&Retired&
Bishop& of& the& Evangelical& Lutheran& church& in& Tanzania–Northern& Diocese.& Consultancy&
services& are& provided& by& CES& –& Consulting& Engineers& Salzgitter& GmbH& from& Germany,&
responsible& for& preparation,& planning,& implementation& (all& in& collaboration& with& local&
experts)& as& well& as& sensitization& and& awareness& campaigns& on& Water& Hygiene& and&
environmental&Sanitation,&facilitation&of&legal&implications,&training&and&recruiting&staff&and&
carrying&out&independent&annual&performance&appraisals&for&the&water&supply&trusts.&
&&
2.3!Awareness!campaigns:!!
&
The&project&was&introduced&to&political,&administrative&and&religious&leaders&through&
seminars&and&village&meetings:&
26
&
*&Explaining&why&they&need&clean&and&safe&water&and&what&types&of&water&related&diseases&
are&affecting&their&communities.&
*&Explaining&why&beneficiaries&have&to&pay&for&their&water&according&to&consumption.&
&
*&Explaining&the&coverage&areas&of&the&water&project&–&villages,&subWvillages,&educational&and&
health&institutions.&
&
*&Explaining&the&structures&and&installations&to&be&built&and&installed&in&their&areas,&e.g.&
reservoirs,&pressure&reducing&tanks,&the&various&valves&and&water&meters.&
*&Explaining&how&to&safeguard&and&protect&their&project&construction&materials&from&theft&for&
example&materials&such&as&cement,&sand,&aggregates,&reinforcement&bars,&concrete&blocks,&
pipes&and&fittings&etc.&
&
*&Explaining&why&there&is&no&compensation&for&land&used&and&plants&uprooted.&
&
*&Explaining&why&people&should&help&voluntarily&e.g.&in&pipe&trenching,&back&filling&and&
ferrying&of&construction&materials&to&sites&where&vehicles&cannot&reach.&
&
Formulation!of!Village!Water!Committees:!
&
According& to& Tanzania’s& 2002& National& water& policy& village& water& committees& should&
comprise&five&women&and&five&men,&educated&to&primary&level&or&above,&of&good&character.&
They& must& also& be& willing& to& assist& in& the& operation& and& maintenance& of& the& water& supply,&
with& the& vision& to& see& a& reliable& water& supply& system& supplying& clean& and& safe& water.& The&
chairperson& must& be& elected& by& the& village& general& meeting& and& will& automatically& be& the&
board&member&for&the&water&supply&trust.&Responsibilities&and&duties&include:&making&sure&
that&the&budget&is&transparent,&assisting&the&collection&efficiency&of&water&charges,&helping&to&
minimise& the& amount& of& water& unaccounted& for,& assisting& the& trust& in& scrutinising& private&
house& water& connections,& knowing& how& to& maintain& public& taps,& knowing& how& to& conserve&
water&sources&and&forests,&helping&improve&environment&sanitation,&knowing&how&to&dispose&
of& human& waste,& setting& targets,& assessing& skills& of& employees,& setting& up& affordable& water&
tariffs& which& cover& costs& (including& depreciation),& to& acquire& land& titles& for& areas& where&
water&structures&are&constructed.&
&
2.3!Achievements:!
&
*The&supply&of&clean&and&safe&water&is&now&reliable,&with&widespread&consumer&satisfaction,&
with&loss&of&water&just&15&percent&and&a&sense&of&scheme&ownership&by&villagers.&
&
*Beneficiaries&showed&they&were&willing&to&pay&for&their&water&according&to&consumption.&In&
2008&two&districts&had&100&percent&payment,&while&the&other&three&averaged&97%.&
&
*All&public&taps&were&constructed&as&per&the&Engineers&specification&and&community’s&
requests,&and&fenced&by&the&beneficiaries&before&being&opened&for&supply&of&water.&
&
*There&was&no&vandalism&and&sabotages&of&the&water&supply&system.&
&
*Water&schemes&were&sustained&by&the&funds&raised&without&subsidies.&
&
27
*Water&users&are&aware&of&water&sources&and&general&environmental&issues;&they&were&also&
aware&that&their&water&is&clean&and&safe&and&no&need&of&boiling.&
&
*All&five&independent&Boards&of&trustees&are&able&and&capable&of&setting&tariffs&that&are&
affordable&to&their&water&users.&
&
3.0!Education!on!Water,!Hygiene!and!Environmental!Sanitation:!
&
Seminars& were& conducted& in& primary& schools,& colleges,& churches& and& mosques& as& well& as&
through&the&radio&stations,&emphasising&that&water&is&a&vital&for&lifeW&without&safe&water&for&
drinking&we&will&not&survive.&Participants&learned:&&
&
*How& to& treat& contaminated& water,& how& to& keep& drinking& and& bathing& water& away& from&
latrines,&how&to&keep&drinking&water&in&clean,&covered&containers&and&why&they&should&never&
drink& water& direct& from& storage& containers.& They& learned& that& farm& fertilisers& can& pollute&
water,&so&were&encouraged&not&to&use&chemicals&near&water&sources,&nor&to&let&oil&run&into&
springs,& rivers& and& furrows& and& to& discourage& people& dumping& waste& into& lakes,& rivers& and&
springs.&
&
*To&wash&hands&after&using&the&latrines,&before&meals,&before&handling&food,&and&how&to&live&
in&a&clean&environment.&
&
*To&collect&rubbish,&dispose&of&it,&sweep&their&houses,&cut&grass&around&their&houses,&fill&open&
ditches,&build&pit&latrines&and&care&for&them,&and&construct&storm&drainage&for&their&school&
and&homes.&&
&
*The&importance&of&forests&in&protecting&the&ozone&layer,&acting&as&flood&control,&modifying&
the&climate,&preventing&soil&erosion,&providing&natural&habitats&for&wild&animals.&
&
3.1!Primary!schools:!
&
In& 2008& the& church& helped& evaluate& the& impact& of& this& education& on& 80& primary& schools& in&
Hai.&All&children&(100%)&knew&about&clean&and&safe&water&for&drinking;&40&percent&knew&to&
collect& rubbish& and& dispose;& 50%& knew& about& cleaning& the& classrooms& (most& remembered&
the& floor& and& forgot& the& walls);& 80%& knew& about& drainage;& 60%& about& bathing,& and& 50%&
about& pit& latrine& cleaning& (though& this& was& attributed& to& lack& of& materials);& 60& %& had& done&
tree& planting& in& the& school& areas& and& 20%& had& created& nurseries& for& trees.& However& none&
knew&about&the&importance&of&tree&planting&for&firewood&or&in&the&water&catchment&areas&
&
4.0!Impacts!of!supplying!clean!water:!
&
*Women’s&workload&has&decreased&with&no&more&need&to&fetch&water;&they&can&now&do&
other&incomeWgenerating&activities.&
&
*School&attendance&has&increased,&by&releasing&children&from&going&to&fetch&water.&&
*Health&standards&have&increased.&
&
*Investment&in&education,&health&and&construction&of&new&houses&has&increased&
*People&are&now&much&cleaner&as&are&their&clothes.&
&
*People&in&the&dry&areas&can&get&their&two&daily&meals&rather&than&one.&
28
SN&
&
1&
2&
&
3&
&
4&
&
&
5&
&
6&
&
&
*Children&now&have&white&clean&teeth&because&the&drinking&water&contains&fluoride.&&
&
4.1!Other!observations!
&
*Repair&of&leaking&pipes&are&attended&in&time&because&of&good&management.&
&
*Most&water&supply&trusts&employees&are&acting&in&an&honest&and&transparent&manner.&
&
*Village&water&committee&members&have&proved&to&be&the&central&focal&pillars&in&
safeguarding&the&water&supply&system&and&assisting&in&water&bills&collection.&&
&
*The&awareness&educating&in&public&meetings,&schools,&churches&and&mosques&were&of&great&
importance&for&the&sustainability&of&the&water&supply&system.&
&
*Educating&campaigns&through&radio&programs&has&made&people&more&knowledgeable&about&
water.&
&
%“Let%us%all%praise%our%Lord%Jesus%Christ%for%the%good%project%which%is%serving%Hai%District%
people%with%clean%and%safe%water”%AMEN.%
&
Appendix!1:!
&
WATER&SUPPLY&SCHEMES&COMPLETED&AND&IN&OPERATION:&
&
Phase& Name&of&water& Physical&
Scheme&
Cost&in&
Cost&in&
Targeted&population&
supply&scheme& implementati completed& “euro”&
Tanzanian& by&year&2015&
on&started&
shillings&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
I&
Uroki&
1992&
1996&
7.17&
11.5&Billion& 92,000&
Bomang’ombe&
million&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
II&
Losaa&–&K.I.A&
1998&
2000&
4.40&
7.04&Billion& 65,000&
million&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
III&
Magadini&
Jan&2001&
May&2002&
1.715&
2.7&Billion& 22,000&
Makiwaru&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
III&
Lawate&Fuka&
April&2002&
Oct.&2003&
1.815&
2.9&Billion& 42,000&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
“partly&attached&to&
III&
Masama&Water& July&2003&
May&2004&
1.375&
2.24&Billion& UrokiWBomang’ombe&
Supply&
and&LosaaWKIA”&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
III&
Rundugai&and&
July&2003&
May&2004&
0.96&
1.5&Billion& “Attached&to&UrokiW
Sanya&Station&
Bomang’ombe”&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
29
7&
IV&W&1&
Lyamungo&
Umbwe&
Jan.&2005&
April&2008&
8.01&
12.8&Billion& 75,000&
&
&
Appendix!2!
!
YEAR&2008&PERFORMANCE&STATUS&FOR&THE&FIVE&INDEPENDENT&SCHEMES:&&
&
List&of&
UBWS&
LKWS&
MMWS&
LFWS&
performance&
indicators&
Average&annual&
&
&
&
&
monthly&
Tsh&30,000,000/=& Tsh&
Tsh&
Tsh&
collection&
18,000,000/=&
8,000,000/=& 10,000,000/=&
Number&of&
62,125&
58,170&
21,467&
38,868&
people&served&up&
to&year&2008&
Number&of&
44&
45&
21&
21&
employees&
Number&of&Board& 2&
4&
2&
6&
meetings&held&
regularly&
Number&of&
4&
Nil&
4&
Nil&
executive&
meetings&held&
regularly&
Annual&unit&cost&
Tsh&219/=&
Tsh&293/=&
Tsh&274/=&
Tsh&357&
per&water&
produced&
(Tsh/m³)&
Total&expenditure& &
&
&
&
on&operation&and& Tsh&151,698,482& Tsh&
Tsh&
Tsh&
maintenance&for&
175,569,591/=& 6,864,000/=& 103,712,925/=&
the&year&2008&
Personal&
26.6%&
53%&
46%&
46%&
expenditure&as&%&
of&overall&budget&
Average&annual&
15%&
15.2%&
11%&
16%&
technical&water&
losses&
Average&annual&
2800m³/day&
1883.5m³/day& 605m³/day&
790m³/day&
water&
consumption&
m³/day&
Total&length&of&
Km&224.2&
Km&260&
Km&103.7&
Km&127&
pipelines&in&kms&
Total&number&of&
&
&
&
&
reservoirs&
19&
27&
9&
14&
Total&number&of&
&
&
&
&
pressure&reducing& 36&
136&
9&
29&
tanks&
Total&number&of&
240&
310&
142&
208&
30
LUWS&
&
Tsh&7,000,000/=&
61,393&
38&
4&
3&
Tsh&318&
&
Tsh&1,229,700/=&
46%&
12%&
990m³/day&
Km&207&
&
28&
&
78&
273&
public&taps&
Total&number&of&
6&
5&
1&
Intakes&
Total&number&of&
241&
268&
239&
valve&and&water&
meter&chambers&
Total&number&of&
4429&
2808&
952&
connected&
customers&
Average&annual&
95.4%&
97.6%&
100%&
collection&
efficiency&
&
UBWS& –&Uroki&Bomang’ombe&water&supply&
LKWS& –&Losaa&–&K.I.A&water&supply&
&
MMWS&–&Magadini&Makiwaru&water&supply&
&
&
LFWS& –&Lawate&Fuka&Water&supply&
LUWS& –&Lyamungo&Umbwe&water&supply&
&
Currency&conversion&Rate:&
&
1&USD& &
=&
Tanzanian&shilling&(Tsh&1,300/=)&
&
&
2&
4&
186&
540&
1609&
2539&
100%&
99.6%&
&
7.!Water,!Sanitation!and!Hygiene!for!FaithYBased!Schools!
CHRISTIANITY.!Magdaline!Gitahi,!Redeemed!Gospel!Church,!Mathare,!Kenya$$
!
31
What!is!the!Redeemed!Gospel!Church!Development!Programme?!
!
The& Redeemed& Gospel& Church& Development& Programme& (RGCDP)& is& a& faithWbased&
organization&started&in&1998&with&the&aim&of&addressing&the&needs&of&the&poor&people&in&the&
slums.&It&is&the&social&arm&of&the&Redeemed&Gospel&Church,&founded&in&1974&in&the&slums&of&
Mathare& by& Bishop& Dr& A& Kitonga.& He& saw& how& many& slum& dwellers& were& obtaining& money&
through& “negative& coping& means”& such& as& prostitution,& alcohol& brewing& and& theft,& and&
realized&that&there&was&a&need&for&them&to&find&an&alternative&after&giving&their&lives&to&Christ&
in& order& for& them& to& continue& earning& a& living& and& be& able& to& support& their& families.& This&
resulted&to&the&Bishop&introducing&social&programmes&through&the&church&in&order&to&meet&
with& the& physical,& social& and& economic& needs& of& the& poor& as& well& as& their& spiritual&
nourishment.&
&
Currently,&the&Redeemed&Gospel&Church&has&stretched&her&ministry&to&nearly&every&big&town&
within&the&country&and&has&over&2000&churches&world&wide,&while&RGCDP&implements&social&
programmes& in& three& main& places:& the& Mathare,& Huruma& and& Korogocho& slums& of& Nairobi.&
The& work& is& grounded& in& its& belief& in& a& holistic& approach& to& development,& which& takes& into&
account&the&spiritual,&social,&physical&and&economic&needs&of&people.&
&
How!many!people!live!in!the!slums?!!
!
More&than&800,000&people&live&together&in&the&Mathare&slums&alone,&in&a&mass&of&unplanned&
structures.& Mathare& is& just& a& few& minutes& car& drive& from& the& Nairobi& city& centre& in& Kenya,&
East& Africa,& yet& it& is& offers& such& a& contrast& to& the& comparatively& wealthy& centre.& It& is&
characterized& by& poor& housing,& poor& sewage& systems,& inadequate& health& and& schooling&
facility,& high& crime& rate,& high& HIV/AIDS& infection& rates,& high& child& mortality,& malnutrition,&
prostitution& and& unemployment.& People& have& come& from& various& parts& of& the& country&
leading&to&a&great&variation&in&cultural&beliefs,&practices&and&values.&
&
How!do!people!access!water!in!Mathare?!
!!
There& are& standpipes& 300& meters& apart.& People& have& to& queue& with& their& 20& litre& water&
containers& for& which& they& pay& 2& Kenyan& shillings.& Water& sellers& in& the& slums& have& to& pay& a&
monthly& fee& to& the& local& government& in& order& to& have& a& continued& supply& from& the& mains.&
This&is&paid&according&to&a&meter&reading.&&
&
Outside& Nairobi,& people& might& have& to& travel& more& than& 10& km& for& water& sometimes,&
especially& in& Central& Kenya& and& especially& in& the& dry& season.& In& many& cases& the& fetching& of&
water&is&done&by&women&and&children&except&where&men&are&living&alone.&Water&is&carried&
on& the& back& supported& by& a& strap& held& on& the& head.& Where& distance& are& vast,& donkeys& are&
used&where&available&and&will&carry&four&20&litre&containers;&two&each&side.&
!
What!is!RGCDP’S!vision?!
&
The& vision& is& to& have& a& society& without& poverty,& injustice& and& where& people& coWexist&
peacefully&and&children&are&facilitated&to&develop&their&full&potential.&
&
What!is!RGCDP’s!mission!statement?!
&
32
RGCDP& exists& to& address& the& physical,& social,& spiritual& and& economic& needs& of& vulnerable&
people& in& the& slums& of& Mathare,& Huruma& and& Korogocho,& especially& children,& women& and&
youths,&through&active&participation&and&empowerment.&
&
How!does!RGCDP!achieve!this?!
&
RGCDP&has&six&specific&projects:&
1. Child! sponsorship:& Poor& children& are& given& money& for& school& fees,& uniforms& and&
books.&
2. Health!and!Nutrition:!malnourished&children&are&fed&with&a&balanced&diet&and&their&
parents/guardians&are&taught&how&to&prepare&the&food&through&demonstration.&The&
project& involves& a& nutrition& demonstration& kitchen,& a& health& clinic,& a& full& HIV/AIDS&
programme&(with&voluntary&counselling&and&testing&services,&prevention&of&motherW
child& transmission,& homeWbased& care& and& support& for& vulnerable& children),& and& the&
training& of& Community& Health& Workers& on& teaching& the& community& on& general&
hygiene,&family&planning,&and&other&health&issues!
3. Primary/Secondary!schools!
4. Community!empowerment!
5. Vocational!Training:!largely!in!computers&and&hairdressing!
6. Relief!
!
&
Why!is!the!Church!filling!this!Government!role?!
!
The& Kenyan& government& is& not& effectively& addressing& the& needs& of& its& people& by& putting&
policies&in&place&to&care&for&the&poor.&Therefore&churches&and&NGOs&need&to&fulfil&that&role.&
In&addition,&the&poor&in&the&slum&do&not&know&their&rights&and&the&church&has&to&take&up&the&
responsibility& of& explaining& these& to& them.& The& church& is& within& the& community& and& this&
means&that&we&are&on&the&ground:&we&cannot&turn&a&blind&eye&to&the&needs&of&those&that&we&
are&serving.&&
&
How!does!the!church!fund!its!outreach!ministry?!
&
The&Redeemed&Gospel&Church&is&funded&by&donors&and&wellWwishers&for&its&Outreach&work.&
Most&funding&comes&through&KenyaWbased&NGOs,&including&Compassion&International,&MAP&
International&and&PATHFINDER&International.&Funding&also&comes&from&the&Netherlands.&The&
money&is&used&to&support&the&pastors&and&also&for&spiritual&outreaches&like&crusades.&A&small&
amount& comes& from& the& weekly& collection& by& the& congregation,& however& this& is&
comparatively&small,&since&most&church&members&come&from&within&the&slums&and&have&very&
low&incomes&or&no&incomes&at&all.&
&
What!is!the!meaning!of!water!in!the!context!of!the!Christian!faith!and!tradition?!
&
The& Redeemed& Gospel& Church& believes& in& the& saying& that& “Water& is& Life”.& In& the& book& of&
Revelation& 21;& 6& we& read:& “And& he& said& to& them,& it& is& done.& I& am& Alpha& and& Omega,& the&
beginning&and&the&end.&I&will&give&unto&him&that&is&thirsty&of&the&fountain&of&the&water&of&life&
freely.”&&In&chapter&22;1&we&read&that:&“He&showed&me&a&pure&river&of&water&of&life,&clear&as&
crystal& proceeding& out& of& the& throne& of& God& and& of& the& lamb”;& and& in& verse& 17& that:& “The&
spirit& and& the& bride& says& come& and& let& him& that& is& thirsty& come& and& whosever& will,& let& him&
take&the&water&of&life&freely.&In&these&scriptures,&water&symbolizes&Christ.&
&
33
John& 4:10,& Jesus& talked& of& living& water& when& asked& for& water& by& the& Samaritan& woman.& In&
this& instance,& He& was& referring& to& Himself& as& having& water& of& life& and& that& whoever& drinks&
Him& will& not& thirst& again.& When& the& Lord& Jesus& commissioned& the& disciples& to& preach& the&
good&news,&He&also&commanded&that&whoever&believes&and&is&saved,&should&be&baptized&by&
being&immersed&in&water&as&a&symbol&of&dying&and&resurrecting&with&Him.&
&
What!is!the!hygiene!and!sanitation!situation?!
!
RGC&use&a&holistic&approach&involving&people’s&spiritual,&physical,&economic&and&social&needs.&
It&is&not&possible&to&have&good&physical&health&in&the&absence&of&clean&water.&Cleanliness&is&
vital&in&the&prevention&of&many&kinds&of&infections.&Personal&cleanliness&(hygiene)&and&public&
cleanliness&(sanitation)&are&both&important.&
&
In& the& slums,& toilets& are& few& and& this& means& that& one& has& to& walk& for& quite& a& distance& to&
access& one.& Some& cost& 5& Kenyan& shillings& per& visit,& to& cover& the& cost& of& someone& keeping&
them& clean,& but& many& find& this& too& expensive.& Due& to& security& and& cost& reasons,& many& are&
forced&to&use&plastic&bags&as&an&alternative,&and&then&they&throw&them&into&dumping&sites,&
trenches&or&into&the&rivers.&Many&people&relieve&themselves&in&a&corner&of&the&narrow&streets&
while& children& can& be& seen& relieving& themselves& at& the& garbage& sites,& even& during& the&
daytime.&Some&toilets&are&built&by&the&river&with&the&affluent&flowing&straight&in,&which&adds&
to& pollution& and& increased& risk& of& disease.& There& are& no& builtWup& drainage& systems& in& the&
slums& –& resulting& in& wastewater& finding& its& own& way,& through& trenches& filled& with& dirty&
stagnant& effluent.& This& also& becomes& a& source& of& diseases& especially& for& the& little& children&
who&play&in&and&around&the&dirty&water.&
&
Scarcity& of& water& leads& to& inadequate& hygiene.& Many& children& attend& school& while& dirty& W&
leading&to&low&selfWesteem.&At&times,&the&children&studies&are&affected&due&to&the&time&they&
take& to& fetch& for& water& which& in& most& cases& has& big& queues.& Children& also& learn& in& dirty&
classrooms,&which&are&washed&once&or&twice&a&week&due&to&scarcity&of&water.&
&
Some&people&in&the&slum&will&bath&and&wash&their&clothes&only&once&a&week&in&order&to&save&
on&the&cost.&You&also&find&that&utensils&are&not&rinsed&in&clean&water.&&&
&
Currently,&there&is&a&big&problem&of&water&in&the&country&and&the&government&has&resulted&to&
rationing& it& where& it& is& available.& Most& estates& in& the& city& of& Nairobi& are& now& getting& water&
either& once& or& twice& a& week.& In& other& places& the& water& dried& over& one& year& ago& and& they&
have&to&fetch&for&it&though&they&have&taps&in&their&homes.&
!
How!are!girls!affected?!!
&
Girls&are&greatly&affected,&especially&when&they&are&undergoing&menstrual&periods.&There&are&
no&disposal&facilities&for&sanitary&towels&and&as&a&result&they&sometimes&keep&used&towels&in&
their&school&bags&or&throw&them&down&the&toilets&causing&them&to&block.&In&most&cases,&they&
do& not& even& afford& the& towels& and& they& result& in& using& whatever& piece& of& cloth& is& around&
them& clean& or& not& clean.& Most& parents& cannot& afford& to& buy& sanitary& towels& on& a& monthly&
basis.&
&
What!is!the!church!sharing!with!young!people?!
!
As& a& church& organization,& we& have& been& conveying& the& message& of& importance& of& clean&
water,&hygiene&and&adequate&sanitation&to&the&young&people:&
34
&
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Boiling& water& before& drinking& or& using& chlorine& tabs& and& ensuring& that&
containers/cups&used&for&drawing&or&keeping&water&are&clean.&&
General&house&cleaning.&Since&family&members&are&in&close&contact&it&is&very&easy&to&
spread&germs&and&illness.&It&is&even&more&important&to&keep&the&house&clean&when&
there& is& a& sick& person& because& sickness& reduces& the& body’s& immune& system& and&
ability&to&protect&itself&from&even&ordinary&illness.&The&objective&here&is&to&maintain&
good& hygiene& so& as& to& prevent& the& spread& of& infection& and& make& the& house& a&
pleasant&place&to&live&in.&
Throw&away&leftover&food&in&a&proper&way.&
Always&keeping&food&covered.&
Not& to& spit& on& the& floor& and& when& coughing& or& sneezing& to& cover& your& mouth& with&
your&hand&or&piece&of&cloth&and&later&wash&your&hands.&
Importance&of&washing&hands&before&and&after&eating.&
Importance&of&washing&hands&after&visiting&toilets.&
We& conduct& environmental& cleanliness& with& them& at& least& thrice& a& yearW& during&
school&holidays&
&
How!does!the!church!train!Community!Health!Workers?!
&
The& church& has& also& been& involved& in& training& some& community& members& as& Community&
Health&Workers;&
• Teaching&the&community&on&general&and&body&hygiene&
• General& environmental& cleanliness.& This& includes& keeping& the& surrounding& clean& by&
sweeping&and&collecting&garbage&and&burning&them&in&a&pit.&
• Referring&the&sick&to&hospital&before&it&is&late.&
• Advising&the&community&on&the&importance&of&eating&well&to&prevent&sickness&
!
How!can!I!learn!more?!
&
http://www.redeemedgospel.org/&
&
&
8.!Faith!in!Water!!
CHRISTIANITY.!Bishop!Walter!Scott!Thomas!Snr!and!Reverend!Alfred!Bailey!
II,!New!Psalmist!Baptist!Church,!Baltimore,!US!
&
In& the& Christian& faith,& water& is& both& a& symbol& of& life& and& source& of& strength.& It& is& also& a&
reminder& to& us& that& some& things& are& indeed& vital& for& our& survival.& The& stories& of& our& faith&
show& mankind& struggling& to& live& and& kept& alive& by& water.& When& Elijah& entered& the& city& of&
Zarapeth,&he&saw&a&woman&picking&up&sticks&and&asked&of&her&a&drink&of&water.&The&drought&
was&great&and&the&only&way&he&would&survive&was&to&have&a&drink&of&water.&She&was&a&widow&
and& he& was& a& prophet,& but& the& need& for& water& was& the& common& denominator.& We&
sometimes& forget& the& life& giving& force& that& is& in& water& and& that& the& greatest& and& the& least&
among&us&need&it.&
&
35
At&the&New&Psalmist&Baptist&Church,&a&predominately&African&American,&Baptist&congregation&
established&in&Baltimore,&Maryland,&USA,&the&existential&need&for&water,&common&to&all&living&
things,&has&become&central&to&our&exercise&of&our&faith.&&As&with&other&congregations&in&our&
denomination,& and& Christians& more& generally,& water& plays& an& important& role& in& our& ritual&
observances,&and&has&a&powerful&symbolic&presence&in&our&sacred&texts.&&Candidly,&it&would&
be&easy&enough&to&refer&to:&the&great&flood&of&the&Old&Testament&(Gen.%6H9);&rain&(Jer.%2H3);&
Jesus’& baptism& (Matt% 3;& John% 3:5);& or& the& woman& at& the& well& (John% 4)& to& offer& some&
understanding& of& water’s& significance& among& many& Christians.& & This& would& offer& little,&
however,& to& illuminate& how& or& why& water& occupies& its& current& place& of& importance& in& our&
exercise&of&our&faith.&&Accordingly,&this&paper&will&not&attempt&to&trace&the&origins&of&water&as&
a&symbolic&presence&in&Christian&traditions.&&Rather,&we&hope&to&impart&some&understanding&
of&how&water&has&become&so&meaningful&in&our&particular&expression&of&our&faith,&and&it&is&
our&hope&that&our&journey&to&this&point&can&be&somewhat&instructive.&&
&
The&central&mission&of&any&Christian&church&is&to&spread&the&gospel&–&the&good&news&of&Jesus&
Christ.& & It& falls& to& particular& congregations,& and& ultimately,& to& each& individual& himself& or&
herself,& to& divine& how& to& undertake& this& mission& –& each& in& accordance& with& God’s& unique&
revelation.&&The&ministry&of&New&Psalmist&Baptist&Church&has&distilled&its&central&mission&to&
empowering%disciples.&&Our&faith&is&not&exercised&merely&in&our&utterance&of&platitudes,&but&in&
our&striving&to&reflect&the&characteristics&of&Christ&in&our&living&and&in&our&works.&&&
&
In& practice,& this& compels& us& to& preach,& teach& and& live& the& gospel& in& such& a& way& as& to& grow&
each& hearer& according& to& each& of& his& needs,& and& each& of& her& capacities.& Our& divine&
assignment&is&to&lift&those&around&us,&and&to&help&them&to&get&to&the&next&place&to&which&God&
calls& them.& Jesus& taught& and& preached& (Matt.% 5:1H16),& but& he& also& fed& those& he& sought& to&
enlighten& (Matt.% 14:13H21).% & Jesus& healed& those& whom& he& sought& to& save& (John% 9:1H25).& By&
Jesus’& example,& then,& it& is& not& enough& that& we& expound& on& the& gospel.& & Rather,& we,& our&
collective&works&and&witness,&are,&God’s&instruments&for&delivering&Jesus’&promise&of&life&and&
life&more&abundantly&(John%10:10).&&
&
For& all& of& water’s& symbolic& import& to& those& of& us& Christians& who& have& never& struggled& to&
secure&it,&or&suffered&from&its&loss,&we&have&rarely&considered&its&practical&relationship&to&our&
undertaking& of& our& central& mission.& & Water& lies& at& the& heart& of& human& struggles& for& health&
and& sustenance.& & Its& scarcity& has& led& to& starvation,& disease,& conflict& and& war.& & Indeed& the&
stories&of&our&faith&have&recognized&that&water&brings&out&the&selfishness&that&often&lives&in&
the&human&heart.&We&want&to&insure&our&survival&even&at&the&expense&of&others.&&Isaac&reW
dug&the&wells&of&his&father,&Abraham,&yet&it&was&not&without&contention.&Conflict&arose&and&
his&enemies&forced&him&to&move&on.&&
&
Now&as&then,&struggles&for&water&security&in&our&age&demonstrate&that&we&are&not&yet&one&
human&family&and&that&we&have&hurdles&to&cross&until&we&see&every&one’s&needs&as&our&own.&&
Struggles,&notwithstanding,&however,&in&a&very&tangible&sense&“life&abundant”&is&not&possible&
without&water.&So,&if&we&are&to&deliver&on&God’s&promise,&as&we&believe&that&we&are&charged&
to&do,&and&if&we&are&to&lift&the&hope&of&those&who&live&in&dry,&hostile&and&barren&places,&if&our&
works,&and&not&only&our&words,&are&reflect&the&character&of&Christ&(John%4:14),%then&we&must&
confront& and& address& water’s& attendant& conflicts& and& ameliorate& the& problems& in& these&
places.& The& revelation& of& how& we& have& internalized& this& connection& is& perhaps& best&
illustrated&by&the&story&of&how&we&came&to&initiate&our&work&in&Kenya.&
&
Our&journey&to&this&new&understanding&began&shortly&after&the&December&26,&2004&SumatraW
Andaman&earthquake&in&the&Indian&Ocean,&which&triggered&the&devastating&tsunamis&in&the&
36
Indian& Ocean& ravaging& & Indonesia,& Sri& Lanka,& India,& Thailand,& and& East& Africa.& & Like& many&
churches,& and& people& of& faith& and& compassion& around& the& world,& New& Psalmist& Baptist&
Church& and& New& Psalmist& Primary& Christian& School& sent& aid& to& World& Vision& and& Feed& the&
Children&with&the&hope&providing&of&some&relief&to&the&people&devastated&by&this&disaster.&&In&
that&moment,&we&believed&ourselves&to&be&operating&squarely&in&accordance&with&our&most&
fundamental&tenets;&we&had&empowered&members&of&our&congregation&to&join&with&others&
to& provide& aid& and& comfort& “…unto& the& least& of& these…”& (Matt.% 25:40).& & However,& as& we&
confronted&the&devastation&beyond&our&borders,&of&understanding&of&who&we&were&and&who&
we&were&called&to&be&was&expanding.&
&
Almost&simultaneously&with&the&tsunamiWrelated&events,&World&Vision&had&approached&New&
Psalmist& and& began& a& dialogue& on& how& African& American& faithWbased& organizations& (FBOs)&
could& become& more& engaged& outside& the& borders& of& the& United& States.& As& a& part& of& this&
consideration,&we&began&to&examine&how&we&actualized&our&mission,&and&moreover,&how&our&
mission&might&expand&beyond&our&local&outreach&efforts.&&Our&notion&of&empowerment&had&
to& move& from& the& theoretical& or& the& superficial.& & Our& notion& of& disciples& had& to& expand& to&
comprise& not& only& members& of& our& congregation& or& communities,& but& those& worlds& away&
whose&lives&we&might&touch.&&It&followed&then,&that&where&life&could&not&be&sustained,&then&
empowerment&would&not&be&practical&or&possible,&and&where&there&was&no&water,&life&could&
not& be& sustained.& & Water,& then,& emerged& as& a& touchstone& of& our& effort& to& live& true& to& our&
more&robustly&defined&calling.&
&
The&Potter’s&House,&a&sister&church&in&the&USA,&had&begun&working&on&water&security&issues&
in&Kenya,&and&subsequently&invited&New&Psalmist&Baptist&Church&to&join&a&meeting&in&Nairobi,&
Kenya& with& representatives& of& congregations& from& around& the& world& to& discuss& issues& of&
water,&sanitation,&health,&education&and&community&empowerment.&Among&the&outcomes&of&
the& meeting& was& the& establishment& of& a& collaborative& effort& to& purchase& equipment& to& dig&
wells&in&Kenya.&&
&
By&October&2005,&we&had&participated&in&efforts&led&by&Potter’s&House&and&FBOs&to&complete&
6&wells&to&provide&water&for&living&in&some&of&the&most&arid&areas&of&Kenya.&&Members&of&our&
congregation& supported& several& ongoing& collaborative& empowerment& efforts,& including& a&
medical&outreach&program&that&reached&into&schools&and&the&surrounding&communities.!(We&
participated& in& bringing& doctors& and& medication& from& the& United& States& to& partner& with&
Kenyan&doctors&to&treat&some&1200&patients&a&day&for&three&days&Nairobi.)&&
&
Our& school& outreach& efforts& provided& students& and& teachers& with& needed& schools& supplies,&
shoes,&hygiene&products&and&clean&water.&Additionally,&we&constructed&a&computer&lab&and&
hosted& a& writing& contest& at& the& school.& & In& addition& to& providing& water& for& families,& the&
initiative& sent& outreach& teams& to& participate& in& food,& hygiene& products,& and& shoe&
distribution,&in&the&local&village.&It&took&very&little&time&for&us&to&observe&that&providing&clean&
water&had&been&the&essential&resource&to&sustaining&community&empowerment&efforts.&&
&
As&our&exposure&to&and&participation&in&efforts&to&address&people’s&most&fundamental&needs&
have&grown,&and&as&our&partnerships&have&continued&to&develop,&we&have&found&the&context&
in&which&to&live&out&the&rest&of&our&charge&–&to&express&the&good&news&of&God’s&promise,&to&
help&individuals&find&His&path&to&each&of&their&next&great&places&of&revelation.&&In&so&doing,&we&
have& attempted& to& provide& various& resources& to& strengthen& the& families& and& schools.& We&
have& forged& relationships& with& local& churches& in& Kenya,& including& The& Redeemed& Gospel&
Church,&a&mega&church&in&Nairobi,&Kenya&with&a&heart&for&outreach.&We&continue&to&pursue&
our&central&mission&of&helping&people&everywhere&to&experience,&understand&and&grow&in&the&
37
transforming&power&of&the&Gospel&of&Jesus&Christ,&but&we&have&seen&that&such&expression&can&
ring&hollow&and&ineffectual&when&we&are&not&prepared&to&take&action.&
&
To& the& more& casual& observer,& water’s& biblical& history& may& be& somewhat& checkered.& & One&
might&conclude&that&water&has&been&a&force&for&destruction&(Gen.6H9)&as&often&as&it&has&been&
a&force&for&good.&&Closer&inspection&would&suggest&that&water,&even&in&those&instances&where&
its& devastating& power& was& unleashed& on& the& earth,& ultimately& cleansed& and& restored& life.&&
Indeed,& water& as& a& giver& and& sustainer& of& life& pervades& the& scriptures& (John% 4).& Even& with&
water’s& powerful& symbolism& in& our& tradition,& however,& our& charge& to& stewardship& of& its&
supplies,&and&our&call&to&promote&conservation,&water&security&and&improve&hygiene,&do&not&
spring&so&obviously&from&our&faith&traditions.&&&
&
Rather,& our& understanding& of& our& mission& to& empower& the& lives& of& every& person& that& our&
ministry&reaches&constrains&us&ensure&that&the&most&fundamental&needs&are&met.&&Water&is&a&
most& fundamental& need.& & Our& experience& in& Kenya& has& taught& us& that& comprehensive,&
collaborative&activity&to&address&basic&human&need,&based&upon&a&shared&value&of&common&
humanity,& even& across& lines& of& faith& and& nationality,& creates& the& necessary& context& & for&
people&of&faith&to&speak&to&the&divine&potential&that&we&believe&is&at&work&in&us&all.&
&
Ultimately,& the& placid& streams& and& flowing& waters& remind& us& of& the& peaceful& world& God&
intends& for& us.& Though& there& are& times& when& we& see& its& fury& and& face& its& force,& we& are&
reminded&that&God&has&given&us&this&great&gift&to&show&us&our&commonality&and&to&guide&us&
to& a& common& good.& & That& is& why& St.& John& the& Divine’s& eschatological& vision& presents& a&
portrait&of&a&world&at&peace:&
&
Then&the&angel&showed&me&the&river&of&the&water&of&life,&as&clear&as&crystal,&flowing&
from&the&throne&of&God&and&of&the&Lamb&down&the&middle&of&the&great&street&of&the&
city.& On& each& side& of& the& river& stood& the& tree& of& life,& bearing& twelve& crops& of& fruit,&
yielding&its&fruit&every&month.&And&the&leaves&of&the&tree&are&for&the&healing&of&the&
nations.%
(Rev%22:1H5NIV)%
&
Just&as&in&the&writings&of&Ezekiel&the&water&flowed&from&the&temple,&so&in&the&end&God&will&
grant&uninterrupted&life.&It&is&a&picture&of&what&the&future&will&be&and&a&command&to&each&of&
us&to&work&to&bring&it&to&pass.&
&
&
&
&
9.!Links!between!Education,!Religion!and!Inspiration!
HINDUISM.!Rupa!Ragunath!Das,!Director!of!Food!for!Life!Vrindavan!Society,!
India!
In&the&early&90's&I&started&working&in&an&ISKCON&temple&in&Vrindavan&distributing&food&to&the&
poor& and& it& wasn't& long& before& my& inspiration& to& make& a& difference& to& the& people& and&
environment& of& Vrindavan& led& me& to& start& my& own& charitable& organization& called& Food& for&
Life&Vrindavan.&&
&
38
Now,&despite&the&name&of&the&organization,&distributing&food&is&only&a&small&part&of&what&we&
do.&Food&for&Life&Vrindavan&provides&free&education&for&over&1000&poorest&of&poor&children&
as&well&as&adult&literacy,&health&education&and&environmental&services&such&as&tree&planting&
and&paper&recycling.&&
&
One& of& the& first& projects& outside& food& distribution& that& Food& for& Life& Vrindavan& embarked&
upon& was& installing& a& water& facility& in& Javat& village& in1999.& Two& large& water& tanks& and& a&
submersible& pump& were& installed& on& the& edge& of& the& village.& A& deep& boring& was& done& to&
reach& the& fresh& ground& water& and& a& committee& was& formed& among& villagers& to& handle& the&
maintenance&and&upkeep&of&the&pump&and&water&tanks.&&
&
Ten&years&later,&this&water&project&is&still&functioning&and&hundreds&of&families&gather&water&
there&every&day.&The&project&is&completely&self&sufficient&as&the&village&committee&collects&a&
small&monthly&maintenance&fee&from&all&the&families&who&use&it.&&
&
Let&me&take&you&deeper&into&our&work&in&Vrindavan&and&why&we&are&here.&Vrindavan&is&made&
of&two&words,&Vrinda&and&van.&Vrinda&is&a&Hindu&goddess&who&is&in&charge&of&Vrindavan.&Van&
means&forest,&so&she&is&in&charge&of&the&forests&of&Vrindavan.&Vrindavan&is&one&of&12&forests&
in& a& radius& of& 168& Km,& which& is& called& Braja& and& was& the& playground& of& Lord& Krishna& 5,000&
years&ago.&
&
Even&though&by&name&those&12&forests&still&live,&all&of&them&have&been&drastically&reduced&to&
few&trees&here&and&there.&
&
Vrindavan&is&encircled&on&tree&sides&by&the&sacred&river&Yamuna&that&has&been&the&basis&of&
life&for&generations.&Unfortunately&since&the&last&few&years&the&river&Yamuna&has&been&turned&
into&a&sewage&flow&from&Delhi&and&other&industrial&district.&&
&
So&trees&have&long&gone,&the&river&is&basically&not&there&anymore&and&the&ground&water&bed&
are,&for&the&most,&salty&and&can&hardly&be&used&for&washing&clothes.&
&
We,&(FFLV&www.fflvrindavan.org)&have&been&working&for&the&last&20&years&in&addressing&this&
issues,&please&see&our&website&for&details&in&trees,&water,&sanitation&etc.&
&
Lack&of&interest&from&local&authorities,&religious&groups&and&general&public&has&made&it&very&
difficult&&to&have&any&effect&at&large.&It&was&only&when&we&started&our&Sandipani&Muni&School&
that& we& saw& that& incredible& potential.& Thousand& children& who& do& not& litter,& 1000& children&
who& close& the& taps& and& are& careful& not& to& waste& water,& 1000& children& who& will& not& snap& a&
tree&sapling&just&out&of&play.&
&
Sandipani& Muni& School& was& made& for& the& poorest& of& the& poor,& catering& to& children& from&
families& who& are& considered& absolutely& poor,& or& having& an& income& of& less& than& £& 20& per&
month.&Our&school&was&built&with&a&water&harvesting&facility&and&the&rainwater&via&the&roof&is&
collected& in& a& 100,000Wlitre& underground& tank.& The& water& is& then& used& for& irrigation& and&
cleaning,&eventually&when&the&need&will&arise&this&rainwater&could&easily&be&filtered&and&used&
for& drinking.& In& our& school& we& also& have& a& reverse& osmosis& water& filtration& plant.& The& tap&
water&in&this&area&has&a&&TDS&or&total&dissolved&solid&of&2,200.&International&standard&for&TDS&
is&50.&Wastewater&from&the&plant&is&used&for&flashing&toilets.&&
&
Our& children& take& part& in& a& number& of& educational& activities,& from& tree& planting& to&
environmental&drawing&competitions,&to&cleaning&drives&and&education&on&the&importance&of&
39
water&for&our&lives&and&the&planet’s&survival.&In&2006&we&published&and&printed&a&booklet&in&
Hindi& called& “a& change& of& heart”& 100,000& free& copies& were& distributed& to& all& Vrindavan’s&
schools,&colleges,&ashrams,&temples&and&our&children&went&in&the&street&distributing&them&to&
everyone&they&met.&In&our&school&we&stress&recycling&from&paper,&which&is&then&used&in&our&
paper&plant&for&making&notebooks&shopping&bags&etc.&Please&see&links:&
&
http://www.fflvrindavan.org/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=7987&&
http://www.fflvrindavan.org/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=9168&
http://www.fflvrindavan.org/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=6948&
http://www.fflvrindavan.org/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=6604
&
&
During&the&summer&our&children&make&paper&bags&out&of&old&newspapers&and&we&go&out&and&
sell& them& to& shop& keeper& encouraging& them& not& to& use& plastic& bags.& Every& last& Saturday& of&
the& month& (except& summer& time& as& it& is& too& hot)& our& children& do& a& cleaning& drive& in& and&
around&our&schools,&with&banners&and&boards&to&awake&awareness&in&the&local&community.&&
&
If&anybody&needed&a&reminder&of&how&crippling&bureaucracy&can&be,&consider&the&campaign&
to& clean& up& the& sacred& Yamuna& River& in& Delhi.& The& river& oozes& through& town& like& a& putrid&
ribbon&of&black&sludge.&Its&level&of&faecal&bacteria&is&10,000&times&higher&than&what's&deemed&
safe& for& bathing.& After& a& halfWbillionWdollar,& 15Wyear& program& to& build& 17& sewage& treatment&
plants,&raw&sewage&still&spills&into&the&river&at&the&rate&of&3.6&billion&litres&a&day.&
&
Providing& clean& water& is& a& solution& to& the& immediate& crisis& of& people& needing& clean& water,&
but&Food&for&Life&Vrindavan&also&works&towards&solutions&for&the&long&term.&Our&major&focus&
is& on& primary& and& secondary& school& education& because& it& is& only& through& education& that&
people&gain&the&skills&they&need&to&change&the&future.&&
&
In&India,&there&are&still&millions&of&children&from&poor&families&who&grow&up&without&getting&
an&education.&At&Food&for&Life&Vrindavan's&schools,&we&work&to&break&the&cycle&of&poverty,&
not&only&by&giving&children&an&academic&education&but&also&by&inspiring&them&and&teaching&
them&that&they&can&be&agents&of&change.&For&example,&at&our&schools,&we&work&to&create&a&
culture&of&everyone&pitching&in&to&help&out&and&willingness&to&helping&others&is&fostered&and&
rewarded.&&
&
We&are&assisted&in&our&efforts&to&create&an&atmosphere&of&service&to&each&other&by&the&Hindu&
practice&of&Bhakti,&which&is&translated&into&English&as&“loving&service”.&&
&
Bhakti&is&a&spiritual&activity&and&when&Hindus&offer&flowers,&water&or&incense&to&a&statue&or&
picture&of&God,&it&takes&them&beyond&the&material&realm&into&the&spiritual&world.&As&God&is&
not& a& material& being,& service& to& him& is& not& an& activity& of& the& material& world& W& so& an& act& as&
simple&as&offering&a&flower&to&God&takes&one&out&of&the&material&realm&and&into&the&spiritual&
realm.&&&
&
When&Hindus&serve&the&particular&form&that&they&consider&to&be&the&most&worshipable&form&
of&the&lord,&it&is&with&a&loving&heart&and&a&desire&to&increase&love&for&God&by&serving&Him.&A&
Hindu&offers&a&flower&to&God&just&as&we&would&give&someone&we&love&a&nice&flower,&for&their&
enjoyment&and&to&show&our&love.&&
&
The&principle&of&Bhakti&or&loving&service&is&practiced&in&Food&for&Life&Vrindavan&schools&from&
the& beginning& of& the& day& when& the& children& take& flowers& and& present& them& to& their&
40
classmates& and& teachers& at& the& morning& assembly.& After& one& person& has& smelt& the& flower,&
the&child&takes&the&flower&and&presents&it&to&the&next&person&for&them&to&smell&also.&&
&
The&feeling&of&having&a&supportive&and&loving&community,&of&being&able&to&coWoperate&with&
others&and&get&their&coWoperation&is&what&empowers&religious&communities&to&work&together&
to&make&positive&changes&in&the&world.&And&the&practice&of&contenting&ourselves&with&simple,&
homely&and&God&given&pleasures&can&enable&us&to&reign&in&our&destruction&of&the&planet.&&
&
The&twenty&years&I&have&spent&running&Food&for&Life&Vrindavan&have&been&the&most&satisfying&
and&happiest&time&of&my&life.&I&have&a&sense&that&I&am&doing&what&God&intended&me&to&do,&
and& this& feeling& is& reinforced& when,& over& and& over& again,& I& feel& that& God& is& making& some&
arrangement&so&that&our&work&goes&smoothly.&&
When& I& came& to& India,& alone& in& the& 1980's,& I& had& no& plan& of& opening& schools& or& doing&
conservation&work,&but&Krishna&made&arrangements&so&that&I&could&start&this&organization&in&
Vrindavan&India,&which&is&said&to&be&the&place&of&His&childhood&pastimes.&I&feel&that&I&am&truly&
blessed&by&God&to&have&been&given&the&opportunity&to&run&schools&for&children&who&are&so&
happy& to& be& able& to& come& to& school& to& learn& and& to& be& given& good& food,& clean& water& and&
medical&care.&These&children&are&our&hope&for&the&future.&&
&
&
&
&
10.!The!Dharma!of!Water:!Hindu!water!principles!
HINDUISM.!Ranchor!Prime,!UK!
1.&Vishnu!is!the!taste!of!water!
&
Water% symbolises% God’s% presence,% which% is% why% Krishna% says,% ‘I% am% the% taste% in% water.’&
(Bhagavad&Gita&7:8)&
&
Because&of&these&words&when&Hindus&drink&a&glass&of&water,&before&putting&it&to&our&lips,&we&
repeat& mantra,& ‘Sri& Visnu& Sri& Visnu& Sri& Visnu,’& to& remind& ourselves& that& we& are& about& to&
experience&the&taste&of&God’s&universal&presence.
&
Not&only&water,&but&everything&we&experience&in&this&world,&comes&from&God:&
&
I%am%the%source%of%all.%Everything%emanates%from%me.%The%wise%who%know%this%serve%me%with%
all%their%hearts.&(Bhagavad&Gita&10:8)&
&
The& elements& of& matter& are& all& part& of& God’s& existence:& earth,& water,& fire,& air,& ether,& mind,&
intelligence,&and&ego&(Bhagavad&Gita&7:4).&Reality&is&made&up&of&God’s&energies.&If&we&wish&to&
see& evidence& of& God& we& have& only& to& look& around& us& and& appreciate& the& wonders& of& this&
world.&&
&
It&is&easy&to&take&these&wonders&for&granted:&we&can&easily&overlook&the&taste&of&water,&for&its&
taste& is& present& in& everything.& So& it& is& with& the& presence& of& God.& He& permeates& everything&
41
and& becomes& invisible.& All& life& is& in& him,& yet& it& cannot& contain& him,& because& God& is&
independent&of&all.&
&
2.&Only!take!your!share!
&
Water&is&sacred&and&cannot&be&anyone’s&property.&In&one&sense&it&belongs&to&all&living&beings,&
to&be&shared&fairly&by&us&all.&But&in&a&deeper&sense&it&belongs&to&God.&This&is&how&the&classic&
Vedic&text,&Isa&Upanishad,&teaches&us:&
&
Everything& in& the& universe& belongs& to& God.& Therefore& take& only& what& you& need,& that& is& set&
aside&for&you.&Do&not&take&anything&else,&for&you&know&to&whom&it&belongs.&(Isa&Upanishad,&
Mantra&1)&
&
Water&is&an&example&of&how&God&shares&his&wealth&with&us.&Its&value&is&beyond&calculation&–&
no&amount&of&money&gold&or&silver&could&equal&a&glass&of&water&to&a&person&dying&of&thirst.&&
Yet&water&is&free&–&or&at&least&it&should&be!&That&is&God’s&generosity.&
&
Traditionally& all& over& the& world& people& dug& wells& and& carried& water& to& their& homes,&
sometimes& over& long& distances.& Because& water& was& so& valuable,& to& give& people& access& to&
water,& by& digging& wells& or& village& water& tanks,& was& considered& one& of& the& great& acts& of&
charity.&Many&Hindu&temples&are&endowed&with&public&water&tanks&so&visitors&can&wash&and&
refresh&themselves&after&their&journeys.&
photo:&Kusum&Sarovar,&a&temple&water&tank&dug&for&the&people&of&Govardhana,&U.P.,&India.&
(©&www.sanskritweb.net)&
&
In& most& civilizations& water& provision,& which& had& been& a& great& act& of& charity,& became&
institutionalised&as&part&of&the&functioning&of&a&just&society,&to&ensure&water&was&available&for&
all.&And&in&the&modern&age&in&many&countries&it&has&now&been&privatised,&though&the&water&
companies&are&still&regulated&by&government&agencies.&
&
But&the&Isa&Upanishad&warns&us&that&if&you&do&claim&such&a&valuable&thing&as&yours,&be&sure&
that&you&only&take&your&fair&share.&Take&only&what&you&need,&that&is&set&aside&for&you.&Do&not&
take& more,& for& you& know& to& whom& it& belongs& –& everything& in& the& universe& belongs& to& the&
God.&
&
The&water&companies&and&their&shareholders&must&be&sure&to&care&for&their&responsibilities&
to& the& people& and& not& unfairly& exploit& their& position,& and& the& people& who& consume& water&
should&not&take&more&than&their&fair&share.&
&
!
42
3.!Moderation!is!a!virtue!
Moderation,& to& be& reasonable& in& taking& your& share& of& what& you& need& and& not& to& be&
excessive,&is&an&important&virtue.&And&so&is&cleanliness,&in&personal&hygiene&and&in&cooking,&
especially&for&Hindus&–&and&this&requires&water.&Therefore&we&need&to&be&moderate&in&how&
we&practice&cleanliness.&&
&
Moderation&in&all&things&is&called&the&middle&path,&described&in&the&Gita&as&‘eating&neither&too&
much&nor&too&little,&sleeping&neither&too&much&nor&too&little.’&The&same&applies&to&our&use&of&
water.&One&person&might&say&that&to&keep&clean&I&require&three&baths&a&day&–&and&that&is&not&
uncommon&in&India&–&and&another&might&insist&on&washing&every&item&of&clothing&after&only&
an&hour’s&use,&or&having&constant&running&water&in&the&kitchen&sink.&Such&moderation&is&part&
of&yoga,&for&as&Krishna&says:&
&
One& who& is& moderate& in& eating,& sleeping,& working,& and& recreation& banishes& all& sorrow&
through&yoga.&(Bhagavad&Gita&6:17)&
&
Enjoying& the& benefits& of& clean& water& in& a& regular& and& moderate& way& is& a& necessary& part& of&
life.& We& live& in& a& time& and& place& where& this& necessity& is& very& lavishly& provided& for,& but& we&
should&control&our&demands&for&water&as&part&of&a&moderate&lifestyle&that&will&contribute&to&
our&peace&and&happiness.&&&
&
4.&Duty!towards!Mother!Earth&
&
The& Bhagavad& Gita& teaches& us& about& duty.& We& all& have& duties,& personal& obligations& to& our&
families& and& ourselves& and& more& general& obligations& to& society.& In& Hindu& teaching& an&
individual’s&first&duty&is&to&oneself&–&for&unless&I&can&save&myself&from&birth&and&death&how&
can& I& save& another?& But& equally& it& is& my& duty& to& serve& society.& And& all& my& duties& are&
ultimately&part&of&my&obligation&towards&my&maker&–&whether&I&call&that&original&source&by&
the&name&Krishna,&Rama,&Shiva,&Brahman,&or&any&of&the&many&other&names&by&which&God&is&
known.&
&
Surprisingly,&in&the&Bhagavad&Gita&even&Krishna&says&He&has&a&duty&–&he&works&to&maintain&
the&world,&and&if&He&were&to&stop&working&the&world&would&cease&to&be.&
&
He&urges&us&all&to&join&him&in&working&selflessly&for&the&benefit&of&the&world.&This&means&that&
we&all&can&help&maintain&the&balance&of&life,&and&we&can&all&profit&as&a&result.&&
&
Caring&for&the&Earth&is&not&just&someone&else’s&responsibility&–&it&is&a&noble&work&in&which&we&
all&share.&Krishna&bids&us&all&work&for&the&welfare&of&others&and&He&calls&this&work&the&wheel&
of&sacrifice.&He&says&that&nature’s&gifts,&such&as&water&and&food,&depend&on&this&great&cycle,&in&
which&each&gives&to&another&and&in&return&receives&gifts&from&another.&It&is&a&neverWending&
cycle&that&brings&happiness&and&prosperity&for&all.&At&the&heart&of&this&cycle&is&Vishnu.&
&
Life& is& sustained& by& food& grains.& Food& grains& are& nourished& by& rains.& Rains& depend& on&
sacrifice,& and& sacrifice& is& born& of& work.& …& So& turns& the& wheel& of& sacrifice.& One& who& lives&
selfishly,&who&delights&only&in&the&senses&and&does&not&care&for&the&turning&of&the&wheel&of&
sacrifice,&lives&in&vain.&(Bhagavad&Gita&3:14&&&16)&
&
Krishna&calls&it&the&wheel&of&sacrifice.&All&work,&even&the&everyday&struggle&for&survival,&forms&
part&of&this&cycle.&Life&is&a&constant&process&of&offering&and&accepting&service&in&which&we&all&
43
depend&upon&each&other&for&happiness&and&security.&If&we&ignore&that&cycle,&if&we&do&not&care&
for&it,&we&must&face&the&consequences.&
&
But&if&collectively&we&live&on&this&planet&with&this&spirit&of&service,&seeing&our&lives&as&a&cycle&
of&giving&and&receiving,&then&we&need&not&fear&climate&change&and&we&can&look&forward&to&a&
regular&rainfall,&with&the&abundance&of&wellWbeing&it&brings.&
photo:& Swollen& by& the& monsoon& rains,& the& rich& alluvial& waters& of& the& Yamuna& swirl& around&
the&ancient&steps&which&line&the&riverfront&of&Vrindavan&©&Ranchor&Prime&&
&
5.!Rivers!the!veins!of!the!God!
&
In&praise&of&God’s&&Cosmic&Form&the&Vedic&hymns&sing&that&the&oceans&are&Vishnu’s&waist,&the&
hills& and& mountains& are& his& bones,& the& clouds& are& the& hairs& on& his& head& and& the& air& is& his&
breathing.&Rivers&are&his&veins,&the&trees&are&the&hairs&on&his&body,&the&sun&and&moon&are&his&
two&eyes&and&the&passage&of&day&and&night&is&the&moving&of&his&eyelids:&
%
Air%is%His%breath%
Trees%are%the%hairs%of%His%body,%
Oceans%His%waist,%
Hills%and%mountains%are%His%bones.%%
Rivers%are%the%veins%of%the%Cosmic%Person,%%
His%movements%are%the%passing%of%ages.&
(Srimad&Bhagavatam&2.1.32W33)&
&
This&truth&of&the&underlying&and&allWpervasive&presence&of&the&Supreme&Being&is&with&us&all&
the&time&everywhere.&Wherever&a&river&flows&we&can&look&upon&it&as&one&of&the&veins&of&God.&
The&greatest&of&all&rivers&is&Mother&Ganga,&who&flows&from&the&feet&of&Vishnu,&and&all&Hindus&
honour&her.&
44
The%Goddess%Ganga%by%B%G%Sharma%(©%www.mandala.org)%
&
In&every&land&great&rivers&flow,&draining&catchment&areas&and&providing&nourishment&and&life.&
The& Thames& is& such& a& river,& named& after& Tamesis& (from& the& Sanskrit& word& tamas)& which&
means&‘Dark&One’,&because&the&waters&of&the&Thames&are&dark.&In&Hindu&tradition&rivers&are&
female&and&Tamesa&would&be&a&Goddess.&
&
British&tradition&however&has&named&the&river&as&both&male&and&female,&Father&Tamesis&and&
the& goddess& Isis,& for& the& upper& and& lower& parts& of& the& course.& But& these& are& differences& of&
point& of& view& only,& which& do& not& hide& the& shared& realisation& that& the& river& is& alive& and& a&
representative&of&God:&a&cosmic&vein.&
&
6.!Rain!and!drought!
&
Rain&is&a&gift&of&God.&Yet&God&also&withholds&rain,&and&drought&may&be&the&result.&&
&
O%Arjuna,%I%give%heat%and%rain,%and%I%withhold%the%rains.&(Bhagavad&Gita&9:19)&
&
Why&should&God&withhold&the&most&basic&necessity&of&life&when&people&lack&rain&and&fresh&
water&in&many&parts&of&the&world?&Rains&depend&on&the&wheel&of&sacrifice.&If&society&lives&in&
accord& with& nature’s& laws,& we& will& have& abundance,& but& if& we& take& from& nature& without&
giving&back,&we&must&accept&nature’s&consequences.&
Therefore&it&is&the&duty&of&all&people&of&faith&to&honour&clean&as&a&sacred&gift,&and&use&this&
precious&gift&with&care&and&moderation.&
&
11.!The!Water!Situation!in!Jordan!
ISLAM.!Dr!Murad!Jabay!Bino,!Executive!Director!of!the!InterYIslamic!Network!
on!Water!Resources!Development!and!Management,!Amman,!Jordan!
WATER!SCARCITY!
&
Jordan& is& one& of& the& ten& most& waterWscarce& countries& in& the& world.& The& amount& of& fresh&
water&available&per&capita&in&2006&was&only&150&m3,&far&below&the&1000&m3&per&capita&per&
year&considered&as&the&limit&to&water&poverty.&Far&from&increasing,&this&figure&is&decreasing&
45
due&to&the&near&constant&water&resources&and&increasing&population.&This&means&the&water&
share&of&a&Jordanian&is&only&3%&of&that&enjoyed&by&citizens&of&Western&Europe.&&
&
It& is& difficult& to& estimate& the& amount& of& water& needed& to& maintain& acceptable& or& living&
standards.& Moreover,& different& sources& use& different& figures& for& total& water& consumption&
and& for& water& use& by& sectors& of& the& economy.& A& range& of& 20& to& 40& litres& of& freshwater& per&
person& per& day& is& generally& considered& to& be& a& necessary& minimum& to& meet& needs& for&
drinking&and&sanitation&alone.&If&water&for&bathing&and&cooking&is&included&as&well,&this&figure&
varies&between&27&and&200&litres&per&capita&per&day.&&Several&different&amounts&have&been&
proposed&as&minimum&standards.&But&the&World&Health&Organization&of&the&United&Nations&
proposes&an&overall&basic&water&requirement&of&50&litres&per&person&per&day&as&a&minimum&
standard&to&meet&four&basic&needs—for&drinking,&sanitation,&bathing,&and&cooking.&
&
The&reason&for&the&severity&of&the&water&shortage&is&simple:&Jordan&lacks&the&rivers&of&nearby&
Syria,& Turkey,& Iraq& and& Egypt& and& it& doesn't& have& the& money& the& oilW& rich& Gulf& Cooperation&
Countries&have&available&to&pay&for&desalination&of&sea&water.&But&Jordan&is&the&only&country&
rationing&year&round&because&of&shortages&W&meaning&each&household&gets&water&supply&only&
for& one& day& once& every& week.& All& newly& built& houses& have& to& build& a& water& cistern& in& a&
basement& section& to& store& water,& but& poor& families& cannot& afford& to& built& large& cisterns& or&
even&install&large&enough&roof&top&tanks.&When&it&is&their&turn&to&get&water&then&it&is&when&
households&could&wash&clothes,&bath&children&and&water&the&garden.&Water&scarcity&is&most&
evident& during& the& long& dry& summer& when& it& is& common& to& see& neighbours& arguing& over&
accusations&of&water&thefts&from&rooftop&tanks&of&neighbouring&buildings.&
&
AGRICULTURAL!WATER!–!AND!A!SOLUTION!
&
Agriculture&consumes&only&about&60%&of&water&resources&in&Jordan&compared&to&80%&or&90%&
in&neighbouring&countries.&Farmers&use&trickle&or&drip&irrigation&to&save&water.&The&following&
example&may&clarify&how&farmers&in&Jordan&use&irrigation&water&efficiently.&I&was&visiting&in&
2006&a&farm&in&Mona&district&of&Lahore,&Pakistan&to&observe&a&demonstration&to&local&farmers&
how&to&conserve&irrigation&water.&The&farm&was&five&hectares&grown&with&palm&frees.&A&diesel&
engine& was& pumping& water& from& a& standpipe& dug& into& the& earth.& My& immediate& question&
was& how& much& water& was& pumped& daily& and& the& answer& was& 700& cubic& meters& a& day& the&
year&round.&I&made&a&quick&calculation&to&find&out&that&the&quantity&of&water&my&five&hectare&
olives&and&grapes&farm&in&Jordan&is&getting&along&for&one&year&is&consumed&in&the&Pakistani&
farm&in&just&two&days.&
&
Jordanian& agriculture& is& challenged& by& low& productivity,& limited& and/or& unreliable& water&
supplies,& and& increased& demand& for& water& from& rural& populations& and& urban& water& users.&
The& Ministry& of& Water& and& Irrigation& recently& initiated& the& “Education& and& Information&
Program&to&Improve&Irrigation&Water&Use&Efficiency”&or&Kafa’a&in&Arabic,&a&fiveWyear&program&
designed&to&create&a&more&profitable&but&less&water&intensive&agricultural&sector.&&
&
Over& the& fiveWyear& period,& the& program& will& encourage& new& attitudes& and& behavioural&
patterns& among& the& Jordan& Valley& and& AmmanWZarqa& Basin& farmers,& engage& communityW
based& groups& in& action& programs,& establish& a& sustainable& producerWlevel& extension& and&
agriculture&service,&and&prepare&information&campaigns&for&decisionWmakers&and&the&general&
public.&Key&objectives&of&Kafa'a&include:&increased&value&per&cubic&meter&of&water,&through&
improved& crop& selection& and& water& technologies& at& the& farm& level;& improved& capacity& of&
farmers& and& associations& to& effectively& market& regionally& and& internationally;& and&
development&of&effective&extension&capabilities.&
46
!
The& Ministry& of& Water& and& Irrigation& of& Jordan& with& support& for& United& States& Agency& for&
International&Development&initiated&in&2005&a&"Water&Efficiency&and&Public&Information&for&
Action"&(WEPIA)&program&that&supported&a&nationwide&social&marketing&program&focused&on&
practical& ways& to& protect& and& conserve& Jordan’s& scarce& municipal& water& supply.& It& raises&
knowledge&about&water&scarcity&in&Jordan,&improved&popular&attitudes&towards&conservation&
and&worked&towards&a&water&demand&management&program.&&
&
WATER!EDUCATION!PROGRAMMES!
&
The& main& components& of& WEPIA& were& development& of& water& education& programs& for&
teachers,& students& in& public& and& private& schools,& religious& leaders& and& NGOs;& media&
campaigns& to& reach& the& general& public& and& businesses;& increasing& local& NGO& capacity;&
expanding&the&pool&of&professionals&in&the&water&and&environment;&increasing&the&number&of&
public& and& private& buildings& with& water& saving& devices& and& roof& top& rainwater& harvesting&
facilities;&and&sustainable&community&understanding&and&participation&in&water&activities.&A&
significant& amount& of& water& and& financial& resources& have& been& saved,& knowledge& and&
acceptance&of&water&conservation&measures&have&increased,&policy&has&been&strengthened,&
advocacy& and& constituency& for& policy& have& developed,& and& capacity& of& government& has&
increased.&
&
Domestic& water& supply& coverage& in& Jordan& is& 98%& but& sewage& and& sanitary& services& lag&
behind& at& about& 60%& nation& wide.& Most& of& domestic& wastewater& is& collected,& treated& and&
reuse&for&irrigation.&&Augmentation&of&the&usable&water&resources&provides&some&relief&to&the&
water&strain.&Jordan&practiced&wastewater&treatment&and&reuse&since&the&1960s.&&
&
Without&down&playing&the&weight&of&the&water&challenges,&the&readily&recognizable&challenge&
in& the& Middle& East& and& particularly& in& Jordan& is& the& everW& growing& imbalance& of& the&
populationWwater&resources&equation.&The&population&growth&over&the&past&halfWcentury&has&
been&due&to&the&high&rate&of&natural&population&increase&and&also&due&to&hostilities&and&wars.&
In& 1948& the& population& of& Jordan& was& just& under& 500,000& and& suddenly& it& rose& to& over&
750,000&due&to&the&first&Arab&Israeli&War.&In&1991&Jordan's&population&swelled&by&10%&over&a&
month&due&to&many&Palestinians&who&were&forced&to&leave&Kuwait&after&the&first&Gulf&War.&
The&population&of&Jordan&now&is&5.5&million.&
&
REDYDEAD!CANAL!PROJECT!
&
Jordan&is&planning&water&projects&that&aim&to&increase&water&availability.&One&such&a&project&
is& the& RedWDead& Canal& project& that& aim& to& connect& the& Red& Sea& from& the& port& of& Aqaba& in&
Jordan&with&the&Dead&Sea&in&Jordan&Valley&so&as&to&generate&hydroelectric&power&for&use&in&
desalination& because& of& elevation& difference& of& 400& meters& between& the& two& points.& After&
years& of& study& and& evaluation,& the& current& plan,& as& envisioned& by& the& Jordan,& Israel,& the&
Palestinian&Authority,&is&to&construct&a&112Wmile,&partially&covered&pipeline&across&the&Wadi&
Araba,&a&desert&region&between&Israel&and&Jordan&that&stretches&from&the&Gulf&of&Aqaba&in&
the&south&to&the&Dead&Sea.&&
&
Theoretically,& enough& Red& Sea& water& flowing& into& the& Dead& Sea& could& restore& most& of& its&
water& level& over& time.& The& realization& of& the& RedWDead& Canal& project& is& dependant& on&
political& and& financial& agreements& between& Jordan,& Israel& and& the& Palestinian& Authority.& A&
second&major&water&supply&project&for&Jordan&is&to&pump&annually&100&million&cubic&meters&
of&good&quality&water&from&groundwater&wells&located&in&the&south&of&the&country&to&Amman&
47
and& other& populated& areas& along& a& 300& kilometre& long& conveyance& line.& This& project& is& not&
economically& feasible& based& on& full& cost& recovery,& but& the& government& is& planning& to&
subsidize&the&cost&of&water&for&the&poor.&
&
SOCIAL!RESPONSE!TO!INNOVATIVE!WATERYSAVING!INTERVENTIONS!
&
During&the&past&20&years&many&initiatives&were&launched&by&the&government&to&inform&and&
educate& the& public& how& to& conserve& and& save& water.& This& was& necessary& because& a&
transformation&was&taking&place&where&water&supply&to&different&users&had&to&be&rationed.&
Water&was&diverted&from&irrigation&uses&into&domestic&uses&and&potable&water&was&brought&
to&urban&users&from&long&distant&sources&at&considerable&cost&to&consumers.&
&
The& great& majority& of& the& 5.5& million& Jordanians& are& Sunni& Muslims.& Christians,& about& oneW
third& of& whom& belong& to& the& Greek& Orthodox& Church,& make& up& about& 5& percent& of& the&
population.&Religion&is&thought&in&public&and&private&schools&and&it&is&true&to&say&that&more&
and& more& youth& in& Jordan& and& in& the& Middle& East& in& general& are& becoming& more& faithful&
Muslims.&Generally,&peri&urban&dwellers&are&more&religious&than&average&urban&dwellers.&The&
role&of&religion&in&every&day&life&of&a&Muslim&is&very&powerful.&It&can&be&so&strong&instrument&
for&social&change.&
&
The&InterWIslamic&Network&on&Water&Resources&Development&and&Management&(INWRDAM),&
where& I& work& as& an& Executive& Director& since& 1994,& is& composed& of& 17& Muslim& countries.&
INWRDAM& implements& many& water& related& research,& development& and& cooperation&
programs& targeted& mainly& to& public& sector& that& require& cooperation& with& ministries& and&
public& water& utilities.& Beginning& of& year& 2000& INWRDAM& initiated& an& action& research&
activity15&that&targeted&households&and&rural&poor&in&Jordan&to&help&them&save&fresh&water,&
generate&income&and&help&the&environment.&
The&idea&was&to&develop&a&low&cost&method&(kit)&to&treat&greywater&from&domestic&sources&
and& make& fit& for& use& in& irrigation& of& home& gardens.& Greywater& comprises& 50W80& percent& of&
residential&wastewater&consumption&W&which&is&all&wastewater&&from&the&home,&except&black&
water,& or& sewage.& This& is& to& say& that& a& house& fitted& with& a& greywater& treatment& kit& would&
have&a&small&spring&of&water&flowing&every&day&through&out&the&year&that&recovers&more&than&
250& litres& of& wastewater& discharged& otherwise& into& sewage& cesspit.& Emptying& a& cesspit& is&
expensive&but&with&most&greywater&diverted&into&a&treatment&then&some&money&is&saved&too&
15
&The&initial&work&of&INWRDAM&on&greywater&for&rural&poor&was&funded&by&the&International&
Development&Research&Centre,&Ottawa,&Canada.&
48
and&there&would&be&less&pollution&to&groundwater&sources.&Cost&of&a&4Wbarrel&type&greywater&
kit&which&is&shown&in&the&figure&was&about&US$500&and&the&owner&could&recover&what&he&or&
she& spent& on& it& in& a& couple& of& years& by& saving& freshwater& and& in& value& of& additional& crops.&
Next& stage& of& this& research& was& to& implement& the& greywater& kits& in& rural& areas& of& Jordan,&
Lebanon,&Palestine&and&Yemen.&
In&order&to&achieve&acceptance&by&the&rural&communities&of&greywater&reuse&it&was&necessary&
to&understand&their&Islamic&tradition&and&social&perception&of&the&environment&and&natural&
resources&including&water.&The&importance&of&liquid&water&to&life&is&well&known,&summarized&
by& the& Qura’anic& verse:& “And& from& water& we& made& every& living& thing”& and& that& its& cultural&
value& in& Islam& is& inherent& in& Wadou16& and& in& the& Hadith17& of& the& Prophet& (Peace& be& upon&
him):& “Cleanliness& is& part& of& religious& belief”& and& water& is& essential& to& keep& a& hygienic&
household.& Water& is& further& needed& to& enhance& the& environment& and& to& protect& public&
health.&Among&the&most&important&roles&water&is&its&indispensability&as&an&input&to&produce&
food&that,&in&turn,&fuels&humans,&animals&and&birds&with&energy&to&perform&work.&Therefore,&
INWRDAM& approach& to& convince& rural& families& to& accept& greywater& recovery& and& handling&
was&in&some&way&linking&their&Islamic&religious&beliefs.&
&
Most& rural& households& in& Jordan& and& near& by& countries& (Palestine,& Lebanon,& Yemen)& are&
extended&families&where&father&and&married&sons&live&close&together&sharing&parts&of&houses&
on&a&land&plot.&A&rural&household&would&keep&a&small&garden&around&the&house&planted&with&
some& trees& and& vegetables& and& would& raise& chicken& and& some& goats& or& sheep.& Because&
domestic&water&supply&in&Jordan&is&rationed&and&available&only&one&day&a&week&throughout&
the&year,&summer&months&increase&demand&for&additional&water&supplies&for&the&garden&and&
animals.& Cost& of& tankered& water& in& summer& in& Jordan& becomes& very& expensive& (more& than&
US$5/m3)& and& some& households& give& priority& to& watering& trees& in& their& garden& that& would&
otherwise&die,&to&taking&baths&or&washing&floors&or&other&hygienic&needs&of&the&family.&
&
Field& surveys& showed& that& many& rural& families& routinely& separated& greywater& originating&
from&the&kitchen&sink&and&directed&it&to&the&trees&so&that&it&is&not&mixed&with&sewage&from&
toilets& that& contains& human& waste.& This& was& because& of& the& Islamic& teachings& prohibiting,&
whenever& possible& of& deliberately& mixing& food& and& food& remains& with& human& waste.&
Muslims&consider&food&as&a&source&for&life&sustenance&and&as&such&must&be&respected.&This&
practice&or&habit&greatly&facilitated&the&marketing&or&selling&the&idea&of&greywater&kits&to&rural&
communities&because&it&complemented&their&practices&of&separation&of&greywater&from&black&
water.&
&
The&benefits&of&greywater&reuse&were&obvious&but&the&poor&had&many&priorities&so&investing&
in&a&greywater&kit&was&not&an&easy&decision&to&make&when&promised&rewards&were&a&couple&
of&years&ahead.&In&order&to&promote&greywater&use&in&peri&urban&areas&good&marketing&of&the&
idea& was& necessary& so& that& the& idea& becomes& popular.& Different& methods& were& used& to&
convince& the& public& adopt& greywater& reuse.& It& was& found& that& installing& demonstration&
greywater&kits&in&mosques&could&be&effective.&This&was&because&mosques&in&rural&areas&are&
usually&surrounded&with&a&small&area&suitable&for&planting&with&trees.&Water&discharged&from&
ablution&sinks&in&mosques,&a&type&of&greywater,&which&is&much&less&polluted&than&household&
greywater,&is&abundant&and&easy&to&recover&and&use&for&irrigation.&&
&
16
&Wadu&or&Ablution&is&the&ritual&cleaning&of&the&body&before&beginning&an&act&of&worship&
17
&Hadeeth&is&a&narration&describing&what&the&Prophet&(pbuh)&said,&did&,&or&tacitly&approved&
49
Therefore&mosques&where&fitted&with&greywater&units&and&a&small&gardens&of&olive&trees&was&
established& in& mosque& courtyard.& The& mosques& keepers& were& taught& how& to& maintain& the&
greywater&units.&The&Imams&of&these&mosques&were&also&informed&to&preach&worshippers&on&
some&Friday&prayers&about&the&benefits&of&greywater&use&and&savings&that&could&be&accrued.&
Most&Imams&were&aware&of&the&Islamic&teachings&about&good&stewardship&and&conservation&
of& water.& The& evidence& of& greywater& use& benefits& were& also& clearly& demonstrated.& Trees&
planted& in& the& mosques'& courtyard& grow& vigorously& because& of& the& abundant& and& regular&
supply&of&water&laden&with&nutrients.&
&
A& number& of& secondary& level& schools& were& also& targeted& for& installation& of& demonstration&
greywater& kits& that& captured& water& from& sinks& and& drinking& point& sources.& School& activities&
usually& include& practical& exercises& and& in& rural& areas& gardening& is& a& main& activity.& Teachers&
were& informed& about& the& practices& of& some& community& members& that& installed& greywater&
kits& and& visits& were& made& to& these& users.& The& teachers& were& interested& in& the& simplicity& of&
the&greywater&kit&operation&and&maintenance.&&
&
The&teachers&were&also&informed&of&Islamic&teachings&that&encourage&in&principle&separation&
of& greywater& from& black& water& so& that& they& could& address& these& principles& in& teaching& the&
theology&classes.&Also&important&was&to&overcome&some&social&taboos&that&discourage&men&
from& doing& cleaning& chores& at& home& that& included& cleaning& of& the& greywater& units& once& a&
month&or&so.&Therefore,&success&of&greywater&use&in&rural&areas&was&possible&to&attribute&to&
public&acceptance&in&mosques&and&households.&
&
During&the&first&four&years&of&the&greywater&promotion&period&more&than&1200&households&in&
Jordan& alone& were& regular& users& of& greywater& kits.& Challenges& in& promoting& greywater& use&
were& simple& and& mainly& related& to& the& reluctance& of& the& individual& households& to& pay& the&
cost&of&the&greywater&unit.&The&need&for&additional&water&was&obvious,&but&as&said&earlier&the&
priorities&of&the&poor&are&to&purchase&food,&cloths&and&other&life&necessities&and&not&to&pay&
significant&sum&of&money&to&install&a&greywater&kit.&&
&
This& financial& barrier/& handicap& was& possible& to& overcome& in& different& ways.& First& it& was&
necessary&to&provide&some&success&stories&that&prove&that&the&simple&technology&or&practice&
of& greywater& treatment& is& working& and& not& difficult& to& understand.& Within& two& years& of&
installing&a&greywater&kit&it&was&possible&to&prove&that&a&households&that&owned&a&greywater&
kit& saved& on& the& cost& of& domestic& water& bills& and& generated& additional& income& from& the&
garden&produce.&
&
Community& involvement& in& any& greywater& project& is& a& basic& requirement& for& longWterm&
sustainability& of& the& intervention.& This& why& INWRDAM& held& community& awareness&
campaigns& and& participatory& meetings& explaining& the& possibility& of& families& practicing& in&
comprehensive&greywater&recovery&and&not&just&that&part&of&greywater&that&originates&from&
the& kitchen& sink.& Demonstration& units& were& installed& in& the& main& mosque& and& secondary&
schools& of& targeted& villages.& Local& technician& were& trained& on& how& to& separate& greywater&
with&least&cost&and&damage&to&floor&tiles&and&how&to&install&a&greywater&kit.&&
&
Comprehensive& community& training& and& awareness& program& was& conducted& during& the&
implementation&stages&of&the&greywater&promotion.&Also&important&was&to&understand&how&
the& community& utilized& its& local& knowledge& in& dealing& with& gardening& practices,& how& they&
would&take&care&of&the&components&of&the&greywater&unit&such&as&protecting&freezing&a&water&
pump&by&insulating&it&in&winter&months&with&a&pieces&of&old&rugs&or&sacks&and&so&on.&Selecting&
the& type& of& plants& that& best& suited& the& local& soil& and& the& greywater& quality& resulted& in&
50
increased& confidence& of& the& community& in& the& benefits& of& the& practices& they& learned.& New&
plants& were& introduced& such& as& cactus,& Sudan& grass,& herbal& plants& that& grew& well& on&
greywater.&&
&
As&in&Christianity&and&Judaism,&in&Islam&humankind&has&the&first&right&to&the&resources&that&
God& has& provided& for& his& creation.& Islam& is& a& practical& religion& where& all& aspects& of& life& are&
considered&and&addresses&in&the&Qura'an&and&the&Hadith&so&the&faithful&who&observe&Islamic&
principles&could&live&a&peaceful&and&productive&life&and&enjoy&rewards&of&blessed&and&lasting&
after& life.& Humans& are& the& most& favoured& of& God's& creation,& we& also& are& responsible& for&
ensuring& that& God's& gifts& (including& clean& water)& are& available& to& all& living& things.& In& Islam,&
human&interactions&are&guided&by&the&notion&of&humans&as&khalifa,&vicegerents&or&stewards&
of&the&earth.&Thus,&humans&are&equal&partners&of&with&everything&else&in&the&natural&world.&&
&
Muslims&believe&that&ensuring&social&justice,&or&equity,&in&society&is&the&cornerstone&of&Islam,&
and& that& the& Prophet& Mohammad& (peace& be& upon& him)& set& the& example& for& them& in& this&
regard.&Water&has&special&significance&in&Islam&and&it&is&mentioned&in&the&Qura'an&hundred&of&
times&either&directly&or&indirectly.&Many&books&are&written&on&the&subject&of&water&in&Islam.&A&
relevant& source& to& the& subject& of& water& and& sanitation& in& Islam& is& a& & booklet& published& by&
Regional& Office& for& the& Eastern& Mediterranean& of& the& World& Health& Organization& entitled&
Water&and&sanitation&in&Islam18.&&
&
Virtually&all&the&Hadith&relate&to&the&preservation&of&equity,&and&those&related&to&water&are&
no&exception.&For&example&the&Hadith&says,&"Non&of&you&will&have&faith&till&he&wishes&for&his&
(Muslim)& brother& what& he& likes& for& himself.& Obviously,& that& applies& to& the& desire& for& an&
adequate& amount& of& clean,& fresh& water,& as& well& as& anything& else.& A& Muslim& cannot& hoard&
excess&waterW&rather&he&is&obliged&to&allow&others&to&benefit&by&it.&In&fact,&the&recognition&of&
water&as&a&vital&resource,&of&which&everyone&has&the&right&to&a&fair&share,&is&emphasized&in&
the&following&Hadith,&which&effectively&makes&water&a&community&resource&to&which&all,&rich&
and&poor,&have&a&right:&"Muslims&have&common&share&in&three&things:&grass&(pasture),&water&
and&fire&(fuel)."&
&
12.!Water!Conservation,!Sanitation!and!Hygiene!in!Islam!
ISLAM.!!Imam!Dr.!Muhammad!Ridwaan!Gallant,!South!Africa!
&
Hygiene,& the& usage& of& water& and& sanitation& facilities& all& work& together& in& Islam& and& are&
interdependent.& & Cleanliness& starts& with& the& individual.& The& Prophet& (SAW)& has& linked&
cleanliness&with&our&beliefs,&and&as&we&know&to&believe&is&one&of&the&basic&principles&in&Islam.&
As&it&is&reported&from&Ibn&Malik&AlW‘Ashari&that&the&Prophet&(SAW)&said:&Cleanliness!is!half!of!
faith&(Muslim:&Vol.1&:163:no.&223).&&
&
18
&Water%and%sanitation%in%Islam,&Series&of&the&Right&Path&to&Health,&Health&Education&through&
Religion,&Regional&Office&for&the&Eastern&Mediterranean&of&the&World&Health&Organization.&Alexandria,&
Egypt&1996.&
51
Water&Conservation&
Allah&(TA)&has&shown&us&by&providing&us&with&sustenance&in&the&form&of&water&that&without&it,&
we&cannot&grow&crops,&perform&our&daily&ablutions&or&provide&our&animals&with&water.&
Allah&speaks&about&the&importance&of&water&in&the&Qur'an.&Allah&(TA)&says:&
&
And! we! send! down! from! the! sky! water! in! (due)! measure,! and! we! gave! it! lodging! in! the!
earth,!and!verily,!we!are!able!to!take!it!away.&!
&(Surah&alWMu’minun&23:18)&
&
Allah& mentions& His& innumerable& blessings& to& His& servants,& whereby& He& sends& down& rain& in&
due&measure,&meaning,&according&to&what&is&needed,&not&so&much&that&it&damages&the&lands&
and&buildings,&and&not&so&little&to&be&insufficient&for&crops&and&fruits,&but&whatever&is&needed&
for&irrigation,&drinking&and&other&purposes.&
&
South&African&religious&leaders&are&very&conscious&of&water&conservation,&firstly&due&to&faith&
perspectives.& This& is& taken& from& the& Islamic& teachings& on& how& the& Prophet& (SAW)& used& his&
water.& It& is& narrated& by& Anas:& The! Prophet! (SAW)! used! to! take! a! bath! with! one! Sa’a!
(approximately!2.4!litres)!of!water.!He!used!to!take!ablutions!with!one!mudd,!or!a!quarter!
of!a!Sa'a!(about!0.6!litres)!of!water.!(Bukhari:&1986:&Vol.1:135&no.201).&&
&
Islam& is& also& against& the& extravagant& usage& of& water.& This& applies& to& private& use& as& well& as&
public,& and& whether& the& water& is& scarce& or& abundant.& The& Prophet& (SAW)& emphasized& the&
proper&use&of&water&without&wasting&it.&&
&
When& the& Prophet& (SAW)& saw& Sa’d& performing& wudu& he& said:& & “What! is! this?! You! are!
wasting! water.”& Sa’d& replied:& Can& there& be& wastefulness& while& performing& ablution?& The&
Prophet&(SAW)&replied:&“Yes!even!if!you!perform!it!in!a!flowing!river.”&(Ibn&Maja&:&1990:&Vol.&
1:&147:no.425).&
&
In&South&Africa&water&is&an&expensive&commodity.&The&Masjid&Committee&has&to&pay&the&local&
authorities&for&the&usage&of&the&water.&The&higher&your&water&bill&is&the&more&you&pay.&&It&is&
for&the&reasons&mentioned&above&that&Masjid&Committees&put&the&following&notice&boards&in&
the&ablution&rooms:&
PLEASE&USE&WATER&SPARINGLY&
WATER&IS&A&MERCY&FROM&ALLAH&&
PLEASE&DO&NOT&ABUSE&OUR&WATER&
WATER&IS&A&GIFT&FROM&ALLAH&&
&
The& Department& of& Water& Affairs& (DWAF),& which& is& linked& to& the& Department& of&
Environmental&Affairs,&has&many&programmes&concerning&water&usage&for&the&publi&
Every&year,&one&week&in&the&month&of&March&is&set&aside&in&which&the&South&African&public&is&
made&aware&of&the&importance&of&water&usage.&We&call&it&"water&week".&&
&
DWAF& takes& many& of& its& programmes& to& educational& institutions.& They& also& use& local& TV,&
radio& stations& and& posters& are& printed& in& local& newspapers.& The& religious& leaders& especially&
those& who& belong& to& SAFCEI& (South& African& Faith& Communities'& Environment& Institute& to&
which&the&major&religious&groups&in&SA&belong&and&who&handle&many&environmental&issues)&
preach&the&importance&of&water&usage&in&their&local&religious&institutions.&&
&
I&am&in&charge&of&the&environmental&desk&of&the&Muslim&Judicial&Council&(MJCWlocal&Muslim&
authority).& I& normally& write& the& Khutbah& (sermon)& for& that& week.& The& MJC& distribute& the&
52
Khutbah&to&the&various&Masajid&(plural&for&Masjid).&In&SA&we&held&a&workshop&for&the&Ulama&
(Islamic&scholars)&on&environmental&issues&recently.&I&was&assisted&by&many&people&who&work&
for&DWAF.&The&idea&was&to&give&the&Ulama&an&idea&of&the&scientific&names&and&terms&which&
we&use&when&we&write&the&Khutbah,&as&many&Ulama&are&not&scientifically&trained.&
&
Since& South& Africa& became& a& democracy& in& 1994,& water& points& was& introduced& to& many&
impoverished&areas&especially&in&the&country&areas&we&call&the&platteland.&This&was&done&by&
the& Department& of& Water& Affairs.& This& never& happened& during& the& apartheid& era.& Many& of&
the&black&and&coloured&communities&celebrated&when&these&water&points&were&installed.&
&
Since&1994&many&people&have&migrated&from&the&former&homelands&to&the&various&cities&for&
various&reasons.&The&result&has&meant&an&enormous&amount&of&water&stress&in&the&cities&and&
other& urban& areas.& If& we& take& Cape& Town& and& surrounding& areas& then& we& have& a& summer&
drought&and&winter&rainfall.&In&2005&there&was&very&heavy&rainfall&during&winter.&The&result&
was& there& was& insufficient& water& for& the& summer.& Water& restrictions& were& put& in& place& by&
local&authorities&with&heavy&fines&for&over&usage.&Water&consciousness&has&been&taken&up&as&
a& very& serious& since& then.& The& Muslims& performed& congregational& prayer& for& rain& at& that&
time.&&This&is&a&special&prayer&followed&by&a&sermon&at&the&end&of&which&those&praying&turn&
their& garments& left& side& to& the& right& and& the& right& side& to& the& left.& This& is& to& show& their&
humbleness&and&humility&to&Allah(TA).&They&then&turn&towards&Makkah&and&invoke&Allah(TA)&
for&rain&with&hands&outstretched.&
&
Thousands&of&black&people&are&presently&staying&in&squatter&camps&around&the&cities,&this&is&
an&informal&type&of&housing&also&called&shacks.&Water&points&are&installed&by&authorities&at&
certain& points& in& the& camps.& The& housewives& queue& for& the& water& and& carry& it& to& their&
dwellings& on& a& daily& bases.& It& is& a& good& sight& to& see& the& coWoperation& that& exists& between&
those& who& stand& in& the& line.& This& water& is& normally& freely& given& to& them& by& the& local&
authorities.&On&the&other&side&people&who&have&water&points&in&their&houses&are&restricted&
and&have&to&pay&for&every&litre&of&water&used.&&
&
As& far& as& the& Masajid& are& concerned& one& finds& that& the& majority& have& adequate& ablution&
facilities.&These&even&prevail&in&the&township&areas&as&well&as&the&black&vicinities.&Many&of&the&
masjid&facilities&are&sponsored&by&the&well&to&do&people&in&the&community.&There&are&masajid&
in& the& black& areas& which& only& have& one& water& point& but& this& is& very& rare& and& is& mostly& in&
newly& built& areas.& I& saw& one& masjid& like& this& a& few& years& ago& at& a& newly& built& site.& I& was&
amazed&to&see&how&the&young&children&would&carry&water&to&the&elderly&at&times&of&prayer&
and&place&it&in&buckets.&
&
Interviewing&people&from&the&townships&and&black&areas&where&there&are&no&hot&water&
cylinders,&I&have&discovered&that&they&stand&for&up&to&two&hours&before&the&morning&prayer&
to&warm&the&water&on&fire&for&ghusl&(compulsory&bath)&as&well&as&for&ablution.&
&
In& our& Madaris& (Muslim& schools& which& takes& place& in& the& afternoon& across& South& Africa),&
water&conservation&is&being&taught&under&the&chapter&of&Taharah&(cleanliness).&The&religious&
bodies&e.g.&Ulama&Council&of&South&Africa&are&responsible&for&the&curriculum&of&the&Madaris.&
Many& private& organizations& are& also& involved& here& e.g.& Association& of& Muslim& Schools& (&
Southern&Africa).&&&
&
We& encourage& people& to& place& a& brick& in& the& cistern& to& use& less& water.& We& also&
recommended&that&this&should&be&done&at&all&masajid.&
&
53
Recently& we& have& had& big& religious& gatherings& where& approximately& 10& 000W15& 000& people&
met& for& a& weekend.& This& is& called& ijtima& (gathering& of& people).& The& structure& build& for& the&
ijtima&is&designed&in&such&a&way&that&the&toilet&and&ablution&facilities&are&next&to&each&other.&
The& sewerage& pipes& are& structured& to& ensure& the& used& ablution& water& runs& through& the&
toilets.& In& this& way& there& is& no& need& for& a& cistern& and& at& the& same& time& everything& runs&
together&to&one&outlet.&&
&
Sanitation:&
&
Islam&is&against&polluting&the&environment.&Human&beings&are&not&allowed&to&consume&and&
pollute& nature& carelessly& as& they& wish,& (Ozdemer:& 2003:29).&In& a& hadith& the& Prophet& (SAW)&
prohibits& humans& from& defecating& at& places& frequented& by& others& and& also& teaches& them&
that& human& waste& has& its& specific& place.& If& it& is& dropped& at& unguarded& areas& it& can& cause& a&
health&hazard&and&can&lead&to&many&illnesses.&
&
The& Prophet& (SAW)& warned& people& when& he& said:! “Be! on! your! guard! against! three! things!
which!provoke!cursing:!easing!in!the!watering!places,!and!on!the!thoroughfares,!and!in!the!
shade!(of!the!tree)”.(&AbuWDawud&WAbi&Tayeb:&1990:&Vol.&1:&book&no&1:&31:&no.&26).&
&
Most&South&Africans&use&the&cistern&in&their&toilet&facilities&and&this&is&very&well&organized&in&
South& Africa.& The& cistern& is& even& used& in& many& rural& areas.& A& majority& of& South& African&
Muslims& use& the& 'western'& (high& pan)& type& of& toilet& although& Islamically& speaking& the&
'eastern'& (low& pan& on& the& ground)& toilet& is& more& recommendable.& As& theologians& we& are&
forced& to& teach& our& people& toilet& usage& according& to& western& facilities& where& Islamic& text&
recommends&usage&of&'eastern'&type&of&toilets.&This&has&now&become&acceptable&by&our&local&
ulama& (learned& scholars).& We& strongly& stress& that& men& and& women& always& adopt& a& sitting&
position&when&using&the&toilet.&&
&We&pay&great&attention&to&clean&toilet&facilities&at&homes&and&masajid&at&all&times.&&
&
At&many&masajid&people&are&hired&to&keep&ablution&and&toilet&facilities&clean.&These&people&
are&paid&with&funds&collected&from&the&community.&One&of&basic&teachings&to&children&is&that&
you&always&clean&yourself&after&stools&or&after&you&have&urinated&with&the&left&hand&only&and&
you& eat& with& the& right& hand& only.& Water& usage& and& toilet& paper& is& important& in& cleaning&
yourself.&&
Washing&your&hands&with&soap&and&water&after&toilet&usage&is&greatly&emphasized&before&you&
commence&with&any&activity.&In&the&squatter&camps&near&the&cities&one&finds&that&the&people&
use&communal&toilets.&Local&authorities&put&up&these&toilets.&The&community&in&the&squatter&
areas& see& to& the& cleaning& of& these& facilities& themselves.& There& is& good& coWoperation& and&
understanding&among&the&locals.&
&&
Hygiene:&
&
The& Prophet& (SAW)& promoted& hygiene& to& prevent& illnesses,& plague& and& diseases.& This& is&
important&because&illnesses&cause&loss&of&life.&In&a&hadith&narrated&by&Abu&Darda&The&Prophet&
of&Allah,&Muhammad&(Peace&Be&Upon&Him)&said:&Allah!has!sent!down!both!the!disease!and!
the! cure,! and! He! has! appointed! a! cure! for! every! disease,! so! treat! yourself! medically! but!
use!nothing!unlawful.!(AbuWDawud&WAbi&Tayeb:&1990:&Vol.&5:&book&no&10:&251:&no.3865).&The&
Prophet&(SAW)&urged&his&followers&to&seek&a&solution&by&seeking&medical&attention.&&
&
Thus&he&taught&his&followers&not&to&seek&solution&by&prayer&alone.&
&&
54
On& personal& hygiene& the& Prophet& (SAW)& taught& us& the& importance& of& washing& ourselves&
regularly.& In& a& hadith& narrated& by& Abu& Hureirah& (R.A.)& who& said& that& the& Prophet& of& Allah& (&
S.A.W.)&said:&It!is!the!duty!of!every!Muslim!to!wash!both!his!head!and!body!every!seven!
days.& (Bukhari:1986:Vol2& :10& no.& 896).& This& command& was& given& by& the& Prophet& of& Allah& (&
S.A.W.)&in&spite&of&them&having&lived&in&a&desert&where&water&is&scarce.&The&Holy&Qur'an&also&
teaches& us& to& prevent& sexual& transmitted& diseases.& Therefore& sexual& relations& between&
married&partners&are&not&allowed&when&the&wife&has&her&menstrual&period.&Allah&(T.A.)&also&
says& in& the& Holy& Qur'an:& They! ask! thee! concerning! woman’s! courses.! Say! they! are! a! hurt!
and! a! pollution.! So! keep! away! from! women! in! their! courses,! and! do! not!approach! them!
until!they!are!clean.!!(Qur'an&2:222)!&
!
Personal& hygiene& is& the& first& step& towards& a& healthy& body& hence& the& Prophet& (SAW)& taught&
his& companions& how& to& keep& their& bodies& physically& clean.& In& a& hadith& narrated& by& Abu&
Hureirah&(R.A.)&who&said&that&I&heard&the&&Prophet&of&Allah&(&S.A.W.)&saying:&Five!practices!are!
characteristics!of!Fitra:!Circumcision,!shaving!the!pubic!hair,!cutting!the!moustache!short,!
clipping! the! nails! and! removing! the! hair! under! the! armpits& (Bukhari:1986:Vol7:516& no.&
5889).& Fitra& means& the& natural& instincts& of& man& or& the& habitual& practices& of& the& prophets&
(Askalani:1989:Vol&10:415).It&is&important&to&clean&the&hair&from&the&private&parts&as&well&as&
under& the& armpits,& because& it& can& cause& an& obstacle& for& correct& cleansing,& it&breeds& germs&
and& can& cause& an& unpleasant& smell.& The& nails& must& always& be& kept& short& because& germs&
accumulate&under&long&nails&and&may&contaminate&food&when&eating&with&the&hands.&
&&
South& African& madaris& (Muslim& schools)& emphasize& great& awareness& on& personal& hygiene.&
Teaching&is&done&at&all&levels&(school&and&tertiary)&in&the&subject&of&taharah&(cleanliness).&&Our&
local&school&curriculum&stretches&over&a&period&of&twelve&years&and&at&every&level&cleanliness&
is&studied.&At&tertiary&level&(theological&schools)&much&research&is&done&on&cleanliness.&
&&&&&&
Cleanliness&is&so&emphasized&because&it&is&a&preWcondition&of&prayer.&The&body&as&well&as&the&
place& of& prayer& must& be& clean.& Certain& acts& which& also& involve& cleaning,& like& ablution,& is& a&
compulsory&act&for&the&five&daily&prayers&and&involves&the&washing&of&the&following:& O!you!
who!believe!when!you!intend!to!offer!the!prayer,!wash!your!faces!and!your!hands!up!to!!
(and!including!)!the!elbows,!wipe!(your!wet!hand)!over!your!head!and!wash!your!feet!up!
to!(and!including)!!the!ankles&(Qur'an&5:6).&Allah&(T.A.)&also&says&further&in&the&Holy&Qur'an:&If!
you!are!in!a!state!of!ceremonial!impurity,!bath!your!whole!body.&(Qur'an&5:6).&Here&Allah&
(TA)& instructs& believers& to& take& a& full& bath& after& sexual& discharge,& sexual& relations,& females&
after& monthly& period& and& after& childbirthWbleeding.& It& is& this& physically& prescribed& cleansing&
which&brings&about&a&healthy&body.&
&
We& always& encourage& our& people& to& wear& socks& in& the& Masjid& to& prevent& fungal& problems.&
We&also&encourage&people&to&dry&their&feet&properly.&These&days&there&are&roller&towels&at&
the&masjid&unlike&the&older&days&when&the&usage&of&towels&caused&the&carry&over&of&fungus.&
&
With& the& influx& of& many& people& from& the& rural& areas& to& the& city& and& with& the& result& of& so&
many&people&living&in&a&small&space&in&the&squatter&areas&there&is&always&the&fear&that&these&
conditions& are& prone& to& diseases.& The& health& authorities& find& it& difficult& to& cope& with& the&
amount&of&cases&daily.&It&has&now&become&a&common&occurrence&of&overcrowded&hospitals.&
The&problem&at&hospitals&increase&because&many&people&from&north&of&the&border&of&South&
Africa&come&into&the&country&and&expect&medical&treatment.&&&&&
&
&
55
!
13.!Water!and!Spiritual!Life!in!Batang!Gadis!National!Park!
ISLAM.!Jatna!Supriatna,!Fachruddin!Mangunjaya,!Jarot!Arisona!and!Erwin!
Perbatakusuma,!Sumatra,!Indonesia!
“There&is&not&a&crisis.&There&is&a&war.&
…And&we&are&losing."&
[Stakeholders&response&to&the&question,&"Is&there&a&
possible&solution&to&the&forest&crisis&in&North&Sumatra?"]&
&
Indonesia&is&a&majority&Muslim&nation&with&world&recognized&biodiversity&and&conservation&
priorities.&It&is&inevitable&that&in&some&cases&a&conflict,&or&a&resolution,&will&occur&between&the&
Islam& religion& and& the& diverse& natural& environment.& We& would& like& to& share& an& experience&
we& had& spreading& awareness& in& an& Islamic& community& about& water& and& sanitation& issues.&
This& initiative& emerged& during& a& project& we& developed& to& conserve& ecosystems& in& North&
Sumatra.& The& project& placed& special& emphasis& on& forest& and& freshwater& biodiversity& in&
Mandailing&Natal&Regency,&which&was&rapidly&declining&due&to&the&growing&logging&and&gold&
mining&industries&in&the&surrounding&forested&areas.&
&&
The& story& begins& in& 2003,& when& Conservation& International& Indonesia& initiated& an& effort& to&
conserve&a&large&tract&of&forest&in&the&Batang&Gadis&watershed&area.&The&area,&considered&to&
be& rich& in& wildlife& and& home& to& the& Sumatran& tiger& and& several& other& species& of& wild& cats,&
covers&around&386,455&hectares,&or&58.8%&of&the&Mandailing&Natal&Regency.&Batang&Gadis&is&
also&a&key&watershed&for&the&region,&as&it&is&the&main&water&source&for&roughly&1,175&rivers&
and&creeks.&
&
The& Batang& Gadis& River& flows& like& a& major& artery& through& the& forests& of& six& different&
watershed&areas,&spreading&out&into&smaller&streams&and&creeks&for&a&total&of&over&137.5&km.&
This&watershed&system&supplies&almost&all&of&the&domestic&water&needs&of&400,000&people&in&
the& regency,& including& water& for& irrigating& 42,100& hectares& of& paddy& fields& and& 108,320&
hectares&of&commercial&crops&such&as&coffee,&cinnamon,&cacao,&palm&oil,&cloves,&ginger,&and&
others.&CI’s&economists&estimated&an&additional&amount&up&to&$24.8&million&a&year&in&indirect&
values&from&the&extensive&water&system&(Midora&and&Anggraeny&2006).&
!
For&the&people&of&Mandailing&Natal,&a&local&Islamic&community,&the&river&provides&water&for&
drinking& and& bathing,& sanitation& needs,& irrigation,& and& additional& socioWcultural,& religious,&
and& economic& functions.& These& people& traditionally& protected& places& called& ”naborgoH
naborgo”& (water& springs)& through& customary& laws.% In& the& 1970s,& the& local& committees&
formalised& these& laws& into& river& protection& (lubuk% larangan)& schemes& (Lubis,& 2001).& An&
Islamic&practice&known&as&a&harim&(meaning&zone)&(Mangunjaya&&&Abbas&2009)&prohibits&the&
harvesting&of&fish&from&rivers&close&to&human&settlements&for&6&to&12&months&each&year.&The&
community& leaders& have& to& power& to& decide& when& the& best& harvesting& time& is& and& a& small&
fee&is&charged&to&residents&or&sojourners&who&desire&to&fish.&The&income&generated&is&used&to&
pay& for& the& development& of& local& social& facilities& such& as& schools,& roads,& and& mosques,& and&
some&of&it&goes&to&provide&educational&scholarships&and&administrative&salaries&and&grants&to&
orphans,&poor&families&and&invalids&(Lubis,&2001).&&
56
&
The& river& also& has& several& cultural& values& to& the& people& here.& Students& attending& Islamic&
boarding& schools& across& Sumatra,& totalling& around15,000,& use& the& river& to& bathe& and& to&
perform&the&ritual&“wudhlu,”&which&involves&washing&their&bodies&before&prayer,&which&they&
do&five&times&a&day.%One&of&the&largest&boarding&schools&in&the&region,%Al&Mustafawitah,&has&
more& than& 7,000& students& coming& in& to& be& educated& from& surrounding& villages,& regencies&
and&other&provinces,&and&even&from&abroad.&The&school&itself&has&been&established&for&many&
years,&and&is&the&best&known&school&in&Sumatra&for&studying&Islamic&teachings.&
&
The&exploitation&of&Batang&Gadis&for&logging&recently&displaced&almost&all&traditional&customs&
and& regulations& by& shifting& central& laws,& including& the& ownership& of& the& state& forest& for&
traditional&or&cultural&values.&For&centuries&in&the&state&forest,&local&communities&have&wisely&
managed&and&depended&on&the&natural&forest&and&rivers,&but&now&access&to&these&resources&
is&becoming&more&and&more&restricted.&This&situation&triggered&several&social&problems&and&
conflicts&between&the&central&government&and&local&or&traditional&communities.&The&corrupt&
central&government&was&profiting&from&the&legal&gold&mining&and&logging&concessions&in&this&
same& watershed& area,& making& it& hard& to& convince& them& to& implement& conservation&
strategies.&
&
For& many& years& communities& have& been& suppressed& and& not& allowed& to& appeal& to& any&
government&system&regarding&land&use&issues.&Only&after&the&old&regime&was&replaced,&and&
Indonesia’s& decentralization& authority& over& the& forests& was& given& to& the& regency& in& early&
2000,&were&those&conflicts&brought&up&and&began&to&be&addressed.&As&a&result,&a&new&local&
government& (Pemda)& was& established& that& enabled& the& traditional& institution& of& NamoraH
Natoras%(nobles&and&elders)&to&be&revived&and&to&play&a&critical&role&in&the&management&of&
local& affairs& including& the& protection& of& forests& and& rivers.& This& helped& the& Mandailings&
recover& their& tradition& of& consultative& governance,& and& encouraged& them& to& challenge& the&
newlyWheaded& regency& to& promote& a& participatory& planning& and& decisionWmaking& process&
(Lubis,&2001.)&&
&
CI& realized& that& if& we& were& going& to& conserve& the& Batang& Gadis& tropical& forest& catchments&
area,&then&we&would&need&local&allies.&We&began&by&approaching&the&most&influential&person&
in&the&community,&the&Islamic&school’s&top&spiritual&leader,&or&imam.&To&him,&we&described&
the&potential&pollution&problem&facing&the&river&running&through&his&school’s&property.&The&
river&will&become&polluted&with&tailings&if&the&proposed&gold&mining&upstream&in&the&Batang&
Gadis& forest& goes& ahead& as& planned.& The& river& would& also& get& clogged& with& slit& and& could&
possibly& dry& up,& if& logging& around& the& nearby& Batang& Gadis& River& was& permitted.& Then& we&
pointed&out&to&the&imam&that&the&Batang&Gadis&water&that&he&and&thousands&of&his&students&
depended& upon& to& wash& themselves& for& whudlu& five& times& before& prayer,& would& become&
very&dirty&and&contaminated&with&poisonous&chemicals.&&
&
The& imam& was& sceptical& of& our& predictions,& so& we& brought& him& to& the& upper& part& of& the&
Batang& Gadis& River& to& see& with& his& own& eyes& how& the& mining& and& logging& activities& were&
negatively& impacting& the& river& water& quality.& The& imam& was& surprised,& and& he& agreed& that&
the& logging& and& mining& activities& were& indeed& contaminating& the& river.& He& knew& that&
polluted&water&would&not&be&good&to&use&for&the&whudlu&cleansing&ritual.&The&imam&began&to&
talk&and&discuss&these&issues&with&his&students,&and&his&students&talked&to&their&parents,&and&
the& information& about& potential& environmental& hazards& in& their& water& spread& to& the& entire&
community.& We& also& approached& the& village’s& parliament& to& remind& them& of& their& old&
traditional&practices&of&“naborgoHnaborgo”&and&“lubuk%larangan.”&
&
57
As& the& awareness& of& the& potential& Batang& Gadis& River& pollution& problems& spread,& the&
concern&for&environmental&movement&grew&from&the&bottom&up.&The&communities&took&the&
issue&straight&to&the&bupati&(the&regency&head)&and&asked&for&the&forest&to&be&protected.&The&
bupati&agreed&to&consider&this&request,&but&he&was&worried&about&how&he&could&compensate&
the&people&who&profited&from&the&logging&and&mining&industries.&We&explained&to&him&that&
the&Batang&Gadis&River&was&the&source&of&irrigation&for&42,000&hectares&of&local&rice&fields,&all&
of& which& would& be& imperilled& if& the& river& were& polluted& by& new& industries& established&
upstream.&&
&
The&bupati&understood&the&situation,&but&he&was&not&yet&sure&what&he&could&do.&At&that&same&
time,&Indonesia&was&changing&its&governmental&structure&from&a&central&government&based&
in& Jakarta,& to& have& more& elected& officials& in& the& outlying& regions& and& islands.& With& the&
elections&coming&up,&we&told&the&bupati&that&if&he&addressed&the&concerns&of&his&people&and&
supported&their&movement,&then&he&could&become&a&hero&to&them.&It&might&even&help&him&to&
win& his& first& election.& So& after& some& thought,& the& bupati& sent& a& letter& to& the& Ministry& of&
Forestry& asking& them& to& declare& Batang& Gadis& a& National& Park.& He& was& later& chosen& by& his&
people&in&the&first&election&in&the&area.&
&
The& process& to& get& Batang& Gadis& its& National& Park& status& was& long& and& involved& a& lot& of&
lobbying& and& negotiating.& But& by& the& end& of& 2003,& more& than& 13,000& Muslim& students&
(santri)&and&ulama&(Muslim&leaders),&together&with&other&society&members,&gathered&for&the&
declaration& of& Batang& Gadis& National& Park,& which& covered& an& area& of& 108,000& hectares& or&
more& than& 25%& of& the& total& forest& in& the& regency.& Because& of& this& established& park,& the&
Batang&Gadis&River&will&be&protected&from&logging&and&mining&industries,&and&will&remain&in&
its&natural&condition.&&
&
The&National&Park&declaration&was&announced&as&follows:&
&
“We& realize& that& the& forest& is& our& source& for& wood,& fish& and& wildlife,& water& for& our& paddy&
fields& and& agriculture.& These& important& forest& resources& need& to& be& protected& by& all& of& us.&
We&realize&that&current&conditions&are&very&critical&and&threatening&the&sustainability&of&our&
life&resources&for&future&generations.&We&realize&that&these&conditions&are&caused&by&mining&
activities,& illegal& logging,& and& unsustainable& use& of& forest& products,& encroachment,&
deforestation,&and&limited&alternatives&for&sustainable&living.”&
&
There& are& three& key& things& we& learned& during& our& experience& of& influencing& the&
establishment&of&Batang&Gadis&National&Park&in&Sumatra:&
&
First,&we&saw&how&spiritual&interest&can&be&one&of&the&most&important&influences&on&the&local&
community&to&protect&their&forest&and&resources.&&
&
Second,& positive& responses& and& support& from& spiritual& (Muslim)& leaders& facilitate& public&
movement& to& protect& the& environment,& because& they& can& explain& how& a& conservation&
concept&is&in&agreement&with&the&mission&of&religion.&&
&
Third,&the&demand&of&clean&water&and&sanitation,&and&a&protected&forest&is&initiated&from&the&
lesson& of& lubuk% larangan,& a& local& tradition.& This& cultural& behaviour& reflects& a& strong& social&
togetherness&that&supports&the&implementation&of&conservation&principals.&Wallahu%‘a%lam.%
Works!Cited:%
&
58
Lubis.&A.R&2001.&The&Politics&of&Identity&Construction:&the&case&of&the&Mandailings.&The&Asian&
Face& of& Globalisation& Reconstructing& Identities,& Institutions,& and& Resources.& The%
Papers%of%the%2001%API%Fellows.%
&http://www.mandailing.org/links/links03.pdf.&
%
Lubis,& Z.& 2009.& Membangun& Kebersaman& untuk& Memelihara& Mata& Air& Kehidupan.& Dapat&
diakses&
di&
http://zulkifliblubis.files.wordpress.com/2007/06/bermulaWdariW
air_zulkifliWbWlbs.pdf.&
&
Midora,&L&&&D.&Anggraeny.&2006.&Economic&Valuation&of&&Watershed&Services&Batang&Gadis&
National& Park,& Mandailing& Natal,& Indonesia.& Conservation& InternationalWIndonesia.&
Jakarta.&
Mangunjaya,& FM& && A& S.& Abbas.& 2009.& Khasanah& Alam:& Menggali& Tradisi& Islam& untuk&
Konservasi.&Yayasan&Obor&Indonesia&(Jakarta).&&&
&
Ikhsan,& E.,& Z.& Lubis,& Arif,& M.& Rionga,& S.& Siregar,& Y.& Melvani,& Yusriwiyati.& 2005.& Dari& Hutan&
Rarangan& Ke& Taman& Nasional:& Potret& Komunitas& Lokal& di& Sekitar& Taman& Nasional&
Batang&Gadis.USU&Press&(Medan).&xii+220.&
&
Tropika& Indonesia.& 2004.& Ini% Keinginan% Masyarakat:% Wawancara% Dengan% Tengku% Rizal%
Nurdin.&Tropika&Indonesia,&JanuariWMaret&Vol&8&(1):&13W16.&
&
Website:&http://www.madina.go.id/Content/TNBG/letak.asp&&
14.!Cleanliness!and!Islam!
ISLAM.!Dr!Mawil!Izzi!Dien!
!
Islam&attaches&great&importance&to&cleanliness.&This&is&reflected&in&the&Islamic&view&on&life,&
which&makes&ablution&and&bathing&a&duty.&Islam&also&requires&Muslims&to&wash&their&hands&
before& and& after& meals& and& to& wash& their& clothes& to& purify& them.& All& these& obligations& are&
related&to&individual&and&collective&acts&of&worship,&emphasizing&the&Islamic&concept,&which&
considers& man's& body& and& soul,& two& parts& of& a& single& entity,& as& mutually& complementary.&&
Following& from& this& sanitation& and& hygiene& are& considered& of& prime& importance& to& human&
life;&this&is&reflected&in&ideology&and&practical&application.&&&
&
The& concept& of& ‘Tahara’,& meaning& purity,& plays& an& important& role& in& Muslim& attitudes&
towards& life.& In& all& hygiene& practice& there& is& "tahara",& which& is& about& both& physical& and&
mental&purification.&A&Muslim&cannot&pray&unless&all&the&parts&of&the&body&are&clean.&There&is&
a& regime& to& follow& in& washing& oneself,& starting& with& the& face,& moving& on& to& the& hands,& the&
hair&and&finally,&the&feet.&&
&
The& Koran& says:& “O,$ you$ who$ believe$ when$ you$ prepare$ for$ a$ prayer$ wash$ your$ face$ and$
your$hands$to$the$elbows$then;$rub$your$head$with$water$and$wash$your$feet$to$the$ankles.$
If$you$are$in$a$state$of$ceremonial$impurity$bath$your$whole$body$but$if$you$cometh$from$
offices$of$nature$or$you$have$been$in$contact$with$a$woman$and$you$find$no$water$then$
59
take$for$yourselves$clean$sand$or$earth$and$rub$therewith$your$faces$and$hands:$God$does$
not$want$to$place$you$in$difficulty$but$make$you$clean$and$to$complete$his$favour$to$you$
that$you$may$be$grateful”&The&Koran&acts&as&a&book&of&general&guidance&for&Muslims&giving&
instruction&on&the&most&intricate&of&details.&&
&&
Water!in!ritual!and!everyday!practice!
!
Water&is&used&in&ritualistic&practice&such&as&prayer&called&salat&in&Arabic.&For&Muslims&salat&
cannot& be& performed& without& wudu,% a& ritualistic& ablution& required& before& prayer.& & It&
represents& an& opening& to& prayers,& and& includes& the& washing& of& the& face,& hands& and& feet.&
Even& at& death,& cleanliness& must& be& observed& and& a& corpse& must& be& washed& with& water&
before&being&laid&to&rest&at&the&last&abode.&&&
&
In&preparation&for&Friday&prayers&the&whole&body&must&be&washed&and&the&clothes&in&which&
you& pray& must& also& be& clean.& & Cleanliness& of& the& body& is& necessary& for& preparation& of&
cleanliness& of& the& soul.& This& is& a& reflection& of& the& physical& and& mental& purity& which&
complement& each& other.& & The& mind& should& be& cleaned& from& the& difficulties& and& conflicting&
demands& of& life& by& focussing& on& God& and& trying& to& do& the& right& thing& by& doing& what& He&
orders.&&
&
Within& Islam& the& expectation& is& that& rigorous& standards& of& hygiene& should& always& be&
maintained,&from&the&washing&of&the&body,&to&the&teeth&and&clothing.&The&expectation&is&that&
Muslims& should& be& clean& in& preparation& for& praying& 5& times& a& day,& from& sunrise& to& sunset.&
While&water&is&the&preferred&method&for&cleaning&the&body&Islam&is&pragmatic&and&allows&the&
use&of&alternatives&such&as&tissue&and&towels&when&water&is&scarce.&The&Prophet&Muhammad&
stated&that&prayer&is&an&easily&accessed&practice&like&a&river&streaming&by&your&door.&&
&
Islam!and!Sanitation!!
!
Cleanliness&is&a&central&aspect&of&Islamic&culture.&Elements&of&nature&in&Islam&are&considered&
to& be& pure& tahir.& This& can& be& deduced& from& the& way& Islam& permits& the& utilisation& of& all&
elements&of&the&environment&as&cleansing&agents,&for&it&considers&them&pure&in&themselves.&&
When& Muslims& want& to& clean& their& bodies& they& can& use& water,& dust& or,& should& these& be&
unavailable,&the&leaves&of&a&tree&and&even&stone&or&gravel.&‘Taymum’&is&the&term&which&refers&
to&using&anything&from&the&earth&to&clean&oneself.&&
&
The&awareness&of&environmental&pollution&in&early&Islam&can&be&concluded&from&the&diverse&
terminology& devised& by& the& legal& legacy& to& describe& various& forms& of& contamination& or&
pollution.&Najis&is&the&Arabic&word&for&dirty,&the&opposite&of&which&is&clean,&tahir.&&
&
In& the& mosque& pure& water& is& provided& as& are& toilets& in& order& for& believers& to& clean&
themselves&before&prayer.&Fountains&are&common&to&old&mosques&to&allow&people&to&wash.&
Mosques&are&planned&with&water&sources&nearby&because&of&the&centrality&of&water&to&the&
faith.& As& early& as& the& medieval& period& Islam& developed& the& structure& of& the& toilet& and& this&
was&used&in&urban&parts&of&the&Muslim&world.&The&relationship&between&cleanliness&and&faith&
is&so&intertwined&and&coWdependent&that&in&some&Muslim&countries,&such&as&Iraq,&the&toilet&is&
referred&to&as&the&‘Tahara’&meaning&the&place&of&physical&cleansing.&&
&
From&the&earliest&times&in&many&parts&of&the&Muslim&world&the&toilet&was&designed&in&such&a&
way& as& to& avoid& sitting& in& order& to& reduce& any& contamination.& Toilets& were& constructed& to&
allow&squatting&while&fulfilling&the&call&of&nature.&In&some&parts&of&the&Muslim&world&today&
60
toilets&are&made&from&marble&incorporating&a&cistern&but&designed&in&such&a&way&as&to&avoid&
any&bodily&contact&with&the&toilet&seat.&Toilets&are&also&built&so&as&to&prevent&any&splashing&on&
oneself.&In&more&recent&times&toilets&in&various&parts&of&the&Islamic&world&toilet&would&have&
washing&bowls&to&allow&for&cleaning&and&bodily&purity.&
&
Poverty& means& sanitation& is& not& always& at& its& best& in& the& Islamic& world,& yet,& the& hygienic&
aspect&of&the&faith&such&as&cleaning&before&prayer&is&seldom&compromised.&
!
The!importance!of!water!in!Islamic!architecture!!
!
Islamic& architecture& reflects& the& continuation& of& the& mind& and& body.& The& physical& needs& of&
believers&are&achieved&by&buildings,&which&both&express&the&belief&and&cater&for&bodily&needs.&
This&is&clearly&seen&in&the&old&mosques&in&Turkey&which&focus&on&beautiful&domes&that&stretch&
their&tops&to&God&and&end&with&a&sustainable&sanitation&system&which&provides&for&mundane&
earthly& needs.& Water& used& to& wash& hands& would& accumulate& in& the& reservoir& which,& once&
full,& would& sweep& into& something& like& a& trap& door& from& where& it& would& run& into& the& toilet&
area&and&then&clear&into&the&cistern.&Sanitation&is&a&prime&objective&of&architecture&–&and&the&
idea&of&how&to&construct&the&ablution&area&is&paramount&within&Islam.&&&
&
Houses&in&the&Islamic&world&are&often&designed&in&such&a&way&that&they&are&built&around&open&
space,&the&intention&being&to&bring&hygiene&into&the&home&with&the&sun&and&air&cleansing&the&
building.& & & In& Mecca& for& instance,& buildings& are& structured& to& take& advantage& of& the& water&
coming&from&the&mountains,&which&is&used&in&preparation&for&prayers.&
!
Significant!waters!in!Islam&&
&
In&Islam,&water&is&seen&as&an&objective&gift&of&God&with&no&mystic&value&attached&to&it,&yet,&it&
is& an& endeared& part& of& the& environment& since& it& is& a& God& given& source& of& life.& The& well& of&
Zamzam&is&located&right&in&the&heart&of&Mecca.&The&water&that&comes&from&this&well&is&not&
seen& by& Muslims& as& “holy”& water& but& is& given& great& value& simply& because& the& prophet& of&
Islam&described&it&as&sweet&to&drink&and&a&“curer”.&Substantial&numbers&of&pilgrims&visit&the&
well&each&year&while&performing&hajj&to&experience&what&the&prophet&thought&of&it.&&
&
In&modern&times&scarcity&of&water&has&necessitated&the&entire&world&to&start&attaching&more&
value& to& water& and& avoid& wasting& it& but& reducing& water& use& could& compromise& hygiene,&
particularly&in&hot&countries&where&water&is&even&more&necessary&for&cleanliness&and&the&cost&
of&water&production&can&be&expensive.&In&some&oil&rich&Arab&countries&the&production&of&one&
gallon&of&water&could&cost&more&than&one&gallon&of&petrol.&&The&Islamic&instruction&regarding&
economising& with& water& use& without& compromising& hygiene& can& be& a& very& helpful&
environmental&guide&for&the&rest&of&the&world.&&
&
Personal!reflections!on!water!and!sanitation!
!
From&childhood&my&mother&encouraged&us&not&to&waste&water&because&it&is&a&gift&of&God.&I&
used&to&swim&in&the&river&Tigris&and&after&swimming&it&was&always&advised&to&wash&again&but&
without&wasting&water;&my&mum&insisted&I&never&use&more&than&one&jar.&&
&
One& of& my& earliest& memories& from& Iraq,& which& remains& with& me& until& today,& is& having& to&
remove&your&shoes&when&entering&the&house,&even&when&there&are&carpets.&Being&in&direct&
contact& with& the& earth& while& walking& on& it& gives& a& great& feeling& of& awareness& of& mother&
earth,& which& is& described& by& the& Qur'an& as& a& womb& for& the& living& and& a& safe& for& the& dead.&
61
Earth&is&also&seen&as&a&form&of&sanitation,&and&like&water&is&believed&to&cleanse&people&from&
dirt.&&
&
Finally,& we& could& say& that& water& and& sanitation& in& Islam& are& important& since& they& are& the&
physical&reflection&of&the&purity&of&faith&and&the&ethics&of&the&human&heart.&
15.!“And!she!said!to!him,!'Give!me!a!blessing:!for!thou!hast!given!me!a!
Negev!land![desert];!give!me!also!pools!of!water,'!and!Kalev!gave!her!the!
19
upper!pools!and!the!lower!pools.” !
JUDAISM.!Manlio!Dell’Ariccia,!American!Jewish!Joint!Distribution!Committee!
Azanaw& Musaw& Tegegne,& an& eighth& grader,& says& that& before& the& American& Jewish& Joint&
Distribution& Committee& (JDC)& installed& the& fresh& water& pump& in& his& village& in& Gondar,&
Ethiopia,&most&people&drank&water&from&a&nearby&stream.&Like&hundreds&of&villages&around&
rural&Ethiopia,&Gondar’s&Gabriel&kebele&had&no&access&to&potable&water&for&drinking,&bathing,&
or&cooking&during&the&region’s&extended&dry&seasons&and&draughts.&
&
Ethiopia&is&one&of&the&poorest&countries&in&the&world.&In&rural&parts&of&country,&only&11%&of&
the& population& has& access& to& clean& water& while& just& 7%& has& access& to& adequate& sanitation&
facilities.&The&health&hazards&are&enormous:&90%&of&all&preventable&diseases&such&as&malaria,&
cholera,&yellow&fever,&hepatitis,&typhoid&and&diarrhoea&can&be&attributed&to&underdeveloped&
and& illWprotected& water& supplies.& Waterborne& diseases& claim& the& lives& of& hundreds& of&
thousands&of&Ethiopians&each&year.&&
&
Limited&access&to&safe&drinking&water&also&causes&serious&development&problems.&Collecting&
water& is& backbreaking& work& that& drains& precious& energy& and& restricts& involvement& in&
productive& activities& and& community& affairs& for& many& women& and& children& in& every& village.&
On&average,&rural&villagers&spend&four&to&six&hours&per&day&collecting&water&from&sources&that&
can&be&as&far&as&10&kilometres&from&their&homes.&&
&
Since& 1984,& JDC& has& constructed& over& 100& hand& dug& wells,& protected& springs,& taps,& microW
dams,& and& latrines& across& Gondar& through& its& International& Development& Program.&
Whenever& possible,& JDC& also& constructs& communal& latrines& to& facilitate& a& safe,& sanitary&
human& waste& disposal& system& (as& open& air& toilets& are& widely& known& to& contaminate& the&
town’s&clean&drinking&water).&&
&
&
“…the$more$study,$the$more$wisdom;$the$more$counsel,$the$more$understanding$…”20!
!
“If$circumstances$force$one$to$choose$between$closing$a$synagogue$and$closing$a$school,$
there$should$be$no$hesitation$in$choosing$to$leave$the$school$open”.21!
19
&Judges&1:15&
20
%Pirkei%Avot&2.8&
62
&
With& safe,& fresh,& local& water& sources& for& drinking,& cooking& and& sanitation& available& in& his&
village&for&the&first&time,&Azanaw&Musaw&Tegegne&no&longer&needs&to&travel&great&distances&
to&collect&water.&Freed&of&this&chore,&he&will&now&be&able&to&finish&eighth&grade&at&the&newly&
built&JDC&School&in&his&hometown&of&Gabriel,&Gondar—one&of&10&schools&JDC&has&built&in&the&
region&in&the&past&18&months.&&
&
Ethiopia& has& an& adult& literacy& rate& of& barely& 36%.& Azanaw& will& be& one& of& the& just& 23%& of&
teenage&boys&and&13%&of&teenage&girls&enrolled&in&secondary&schools.&(Only&55%&of&all&boys&
and&47%&of&all&girls&are&enrolled&in&primary&schools;&38%&will&not&reach&the&fifth&grade.)&&
&
Schools&in&villages&in&the&Gondar&regions&are&often&held&outside,&under&the&shade&of&a&couple&
of&trees.&The&tree&trunks&holds&up&blackboards,&rocks&serve&as&seats&and&wandering&cows&are&
inadvertent&classmates.&&
&
Committed&to&making&a&difference&in&the&development&of&Ethiopia’s&educational&system&and&
securing& a& future& for& some& of& the& most& vulnerable& people& on& the& globe,& JDC& has& been&
repairing& and& building& schools& for& some& of& the& poorest& Ethiopian& children& for& many& years.&
The& oneW& or& twoWclassroom& mudW& and& concreteWbrick& schools& are& provided& with& all& school&
furnishings.&JDC&also&attaches&a&latrine&and&often&a&well&with&handWpump&to&meet&the&clean&
water&needs&of&the&children,&their&families&and&the&rest&of&the&village.&&
&
“Education$is$the$key$to$development.”22!
&
Nearly& half& of& all& Ethiopian& youngsters& do& not& receive& even& primary& education,& and& the&
likelihood&of&receiving&a&high&school&education&is&even&smaller,&with&just&23%&of&teenage&boys&
and&13%&of&teenage&girls&enrolled&in&secondary&schools.&
&
Women& are& especially& penalized& in& terms& of& education,& but& JDC& is& convinced& that,& those&
young&women&who&manage&to&complete&their&secondary&schooling&must&be&given&a&chance&
for& higher& education.& Once& they& have& completed& their& university& levels& courses,& they& will&
have& a& monumental& impact& on& their& own& lives,& those& of& their& families& and& villages,& and& on&
the&country&itself.&&
&
JDC&has&provided&scholarships&for&well&over&a&hundred&university&students&over&recent&years,&
most&of&whom&are&young&women&from&poor&rural&areas.&They&study&for&degrees&in&areas&such&
as& marketing& and& public& management,& economics,& and& law.& They& are& provided& with& full&
tuition,& as& well& as& financial& assistance& for& lodging,& food,& a& monthly& living& allowance,& and&
school& materials.& In& order& to& meet& the& challenges& of& a& college& education,& the& fourWyear&
degree&courses&are&preceded&by&a&preparatory&year.&&
&
In& addition,& JDC& runs& scholarship& programs& for& nurses& training& in& Gondar,& combining& a&
response&to&the&need&for&education&and&one&response&to&the&staggering&health&problems&in&
Ethiopia.&&Almost&half&of&the&population&has&no&access&to&health&care,&primarily&because&of&
the& lack& of& qualified,& trained& health& personnel.& The& young& women& in& the& programs& will&
become& fully& certified& public& health& nurses& (over& three& years),& giving& them& a& chance& at&
quality& longWterm& employment& in& their& home& communities& and& villages& and& letting& them&
21
&Rabbi&Elio&Toaff,&Chief&Rabbi&Emeritus&of&the&Jewish&Community&of&Rome.&
22
&&Rita&Levi&Montalcini,&Jewish&Nobel&Prize&winner&for&medicine&in&1986.&
63
contribute& to& their& society.& They& too& receive& full& tuition,& as& well& as& financial& assistance& for&
lodging,&food,&a&monthly&living&allowance,&and&school&materials.&
&
“…Whoever$saves$a$life,$it$is$considered$as$if$he$saved$an$entire$world.”23!
&
The& health& challenges& in& Ethiopia& are& staggering.& One& in& eight& people& face& severe& hunger.&
One&in&six&children&will&not&see&their&fifth&birthday.&Life&expectancy&at&birth&is&only&48&years.&
The&most&common&illnesses&and&deaths&can&be&easily&prevented&or&treated,&yet&four&out&of&
every&10&people&have&no&access&to&health&care.&&&
&
JDC&has&a&formal&partnership&with&the&Mother&Theresa&Care&Centre&in&Addis&Ababa&to&help&
orphans&and&the&destitute&in&Addis&Ababa&and&surrounding&areas.&Under&our&agreement&with&
Mother& Theresa,& JDC& with& its& partners& provides& quality& surgical& and& medical& care,& in& and&
outside& Ethiopia.& One& major& project& involves& partnering& with& leading& physicians& in& the& US&
and& Ghana& to& provide& complex& and& high& quality,& lifeWsaving& spinal& surgeries& for& needy&
children.& Since& the& project& started& in& 2006,& over& 35& children& have& been& sent& to& Ghana& for&
surgery&accompanied&by&JDC&staff.&
&
JDC& also& implements& a& project& for& treatment& of& patients& with& lymphoma& or& leukaemia&
(Hodgkin’s& Disease)& who& greatly& benefit& from& treatment.& This& project& –& which& consists& of&
importing&the&needed&medication&from&countries&where&it&is&less&expensive&than&in&Ethiopia&W&
is&being&extended&to&the&treatment&of&other&curable&cancers.&&
&
JDC& also& has& an& agreement& of& the& Gondar& College& of& Medicine& and& Health& Sciences& to&
promote& training,& clinical& and& teaching& services,& research& and& community& service& between&
Gondar& Medical& College& and& foreign& physicians.& Foreign& medical& teams& visit& Gondar,&
providing& voluntary& teaching& and& medical& care,& and& Gondar& physicians& have& spent& time&
studying&abroad.&&
&
&
Tikkun$Olam$
&
All& of& JDC’s& projects& are& inspired& by& the& Jewish& principle& of& Tikkun% Olam& (Repairing& Our&
World),&whereby&Jews&are&required&to&help&the&cosmos&evolve&by&providing&service&to&society&
and&helping&those&in&need.&This&principle&leads&JDC&to&work&in&over&60&countries&all&over&the&
world.&Other&examples&of&JDC’s&efforts&at&Tikkun%Olam&can&be&seen&in&its&PostYtsunami!Relief!
and! Development,& the& lightningWfast& Relief! and! Rehabilitation! Response& during& and& after&
the& Kosovo& War& in& 1999,& and& the& new& AgahozoYShalom! Youth! Village! (ASYV)& in& Rwanda.&
ASYV& is& a& multifaceted& youth& village,& providing& children& orphaned& in& the& genocide& with& a&
holistic& and& protective& environment& where& unconditional& support& allows& them& to& thrive,& a&
high&school&enables&them&to&shape&their&future,&and&a&medical&clinic&ensures&their&health&and&
well&being&as&well&as&those&of&the&surrounding&communities.&&
&
JDC& is& a& Jewish& organization& because& the& greater& part& of& its& funding& comes& from& the& US&
Jewish&community&and&from&Jewish&individuals&and&foundations&and&because&it&runs&specific&
programs& to& help& Jewish& communities& in& distress& that& would& otherwise& not& receive&
assistance.& But& in& all& our& other& programs& we& are& absolutely,& utterly& nonWsectarian,&
uninterested& in& religion,& race,& or& ethnic& origin,& in& the& people& we& seek& to& help,& and& in& the&
partners&with&whom&we&work.&&
23
&Talmud%Yerushalmi,%Sanhedrin&(37a)&
64
&
We& are& guided& by& the& principle& of& Tikkun% Olam& and& by& the& value& of& social& justice& for& all&
humanity.&This&is&one&of&the&basic&principles&of&Judaism&and&should&be&an&inspiration&for&all&
religions,&and&for&all&of&secular&society.&It&should&be&a&guiding&light&all&individuals,&of&whatever&
religious&belief&as&well&as&those&without&any.&
16.!Water,!Hygiene!and!Sanitation!in!Jewish!Tradition!
JUDAISM.!Dr!Mirele!B.!Goldsmith!
There& is& no& single& straightforward& answer& to& the& question& “What& does& Judaism& say& about&
water,& hygiene& and& sanitation?”& & & All& four& topics& are& vast.& & Judaism& is& not& one& thing,& and&
water,& like& hygiene& and& sanitation,& is& found& in& many& forms& and& varying& contexts.& & And,& to&
begin&to&answer&the&question&we&must&move&back&and&forth&between&symbolic&and&practical&
perspectives,& both& of& which& are& present& within& Jewish& tradition.& & The& integration& of& these&
perspectives& is& one& of& the& strengths& of& religious& responses.& & FaithWbased& perspectives& can&
give&expression&to&our&hopes&by&arousing&the&sense&of&the&sacred,&as&well&as&to&our&fears&and&
anxieties.& & Today’s& water& and& sanitation& policy& issues& have& in& many& cases& moved& beyond&
what& can& be& addressed& by& traditional& practices.& & The& deeper& insights& accessible& through&
religious& teachings& can& help& us& to& develop& appropriate& responses& to& practical& challenges.&&
(Blanchard)&
&
Appreciation!for!Water!!
&
A&point&of&departure&for&this&exploration&is&the&Jewish&story&of&the&creation&of&the&earth.&&The&
Bible&begins&with&two&different&stories&describing&the&creation.&&In&both&stories&water&exists&
before&everything&else&on&earth.&&In&the&first&story,&all&of&creation&emerges&from&water&just&as&
the&human&being&emerges&from&a&watery&womb.&&In&the&second&story,&flowing&water&irrigates&
the&earth&so&that&life&can&emerge:&
&
&&“Such& is& the& story& of& heaven& and& earth& when& they& were& created.& & When& the& Lord&
God&made&earth&and&heaven&–&when&no&shrub&of&the&field&was&yet&on&earth&and&no&
grasses&of&the&field&had&yet&sprouted,&because&the&Lord&God&had&not&send&rain&upon&
the&earth&and&there&was&no&man&to&till&the&soil,&but&a&flow&would&well&up&from&the&
ground&and&water&the&whole&surface&of&the&earth.”&(Genesis&2:4W6)&&&
&
As& Ellen& Bernstein& writes& in& her& meditation& on& the& first& chapter& of& Genesis,& “From& the&
perspective&of&water,&all&the&earth,&the&plants,&and&the&animals&are&channels&through&which&
water&flows&en&route&to&the&atmosphere&or&to&the&seas.”&(Bernstein,&p28)&&&
&
As&befits&such&a&critical&and&ubiquitous&element&of&creation,&upon&which&human&beings&are&
dependent&for&their&survival,&water&has&many&associations&and&symbolic&meanings&in&Jewish&
tradition.& & We& can& follow& one& stream& of& this& symbolism& through& the& association& of& water&
with&birth.&&Just&as&the&earth&was&born&from&water,&the&foetus&develops&in&a&watery&womb.&&
Thus& many& Jewish& texts& and& traditions& connect& women& and& water.& & The& birth& of& the& new&
nation&of&Israel&is&linked&with&water&as&the&people&passed&through&the&sea&in&the&exodus&from&
65
Egypt.& & & Water& is& associated& with& salvation& and& as& such& it& is& connected,& especially& by& the&
Prophets,&with&the&end&of&days&when&ethical&actions&will&elicit&divine&favour.&
&
Among&water&sources,&rain&has&a&special&significance&in&Judaism.&&Judaism&first&emerged&and&
developed&in&the&Land&of&Israel&where&rain&is&the&primary&source&of&water.&&Thus&this&form&of&
water&receives&special&attention&in&our&tradition.&&In&fact&there&are&6&different&words&for&rain&
in&Hebrew,&an&indication&of&how&closely&our&ancestors&watched&and&studied&the&rains.&&The&
rabbis&of&the&rabbinic&period&were&keenly&aware&of&their&dependence&on&quantity&and&quality&
of&the&rains,&and&expressed&it&directly.&&In&a&famous&passage,&the&rabbis&discuss&the&supreme&
importance&of&rain:&&“Rav&Yehudah&said:&‘The&day&when&rain&falls&is&as&great&as&the&day&when&
the& Torah& was& given…’& & Raba& said:& & ‘It& is& even& greater& than& the& day& when& the& Torah& was&
given.’”& & (BT,& Ta’anit& 7a)& & As& Jeremy& Benstein& writes,& “both& symbolically& and& literally,& rain&
expresses&the&physical&connection&between&heaven&and&earth,&and&thus&becomes&the&most&
direct& expression& of& the& divine& abundance& we& experience& in& the& natural& world.”& (Benstein,&
p85)&
&
Procuring!and!Using!Water!!
&
Of&course&water&is&not&only&a&symbol,&but&it&is&an&absolute&necessity&of&life.&&In&the&vast&body&
of&Jewish&law,&many&issues&regarding&water&sources&and&use&of&water&are&addressed.&&Many&
of& Judaism’s& traditions& related& to& water,& hygiene& and& cleanliness& stem& originally& from& the&
system& of& purification& which& is& mentioned& in& the& Bible& and& was& elaborated& in& the& rabbinic&
period.&&In&this&context&the&Mishna&provides&explicit&guidance&about&water&sources&and&their&
potential&to&transmit&ritual&impurity.&&Water&from&springs&was&considered&least&susceptible&to&
impurity&and&water&in&small&ponds&was&considered&most&susceptible.&&Contemporary&analysis&
suggests& that& microbiological& considerations& would& dictate& a& similar& ranking& of& water&
sources.&&(Hutterman,&p31,&see&Mishna&Mikvaot&1:1W8)&
&
The&rabbis&of&the&rabbinic&period&instituted&specific&rules&for&safeguarding&water&supplies&and&
human&health,&which&were&further&developed&over&time&in&halacha&(Jewish&law)&and&remain&
relevant& today.& & For& example,& on& the& protection& of& water& sources,& drinking& water& must& be&
kept& covered& (Avodah& Zarah& 27b),& and& wells& may& not& be& dug& near& dumps& or& cemeteries&
(Tosefta& Baba& Batra& 1).& & Regarding& the& responsibility& of& the& community& for& water& supplies&
and&equity&in&their&distribution,&rules&were&instituted&about&the&maintenance&of&waterworks&
and& the& allocation& of& scarce& water& supplies.& & Of& relevance& to& today’s& debates& on&
privatization,&the&rabbis&stated&that,&“The&rivers&and&the&springs&that&are&drawn&upon&belong&
to&everyone&(kol&adam)”&(Tosefta&Baba&Kama&6:15&and&Maimonides&Mishneh&Torah,&Laws&of&
Theft&and&Loss&6:13,&quoted&in&Benstein,&p133).&&&
&
Purity!and!Cleanliness!
&
In&a&muchWquoted&story,&Hillel&the&Elder,&the&famous&scholar&who&lived&at&the&end&of&the&1st&
century& BCE& and& beginning& of& the& 1st& century& CE,& taught& his& disciples& about& cleanliness&
through&his&personal&example:&&"When&he&[Hillel]&took&leave&of&his&students,&he&used&to&go&
off& for& a& walk.& His& students& asked& him:& 'Where& are& you& walking& to?'& He& answered:& 'To&
perform&a&meritorious&deed.'&–&They&said&to&him:&'And&what&is&this&deed?'&–&And&he&said&to&
them:&'To&take&a&bath&in&the&bathhouse.'&–&They&said&to&him:&'And&is&this&a&meritorious&deed?'&
–&He&answered:&'It&is;&if&the&statues&erected&to&kings&in&the&theatres&and&circuses&are&washed&
and& scrubbed& by& those& in& charge& of& them…& how& much& more& should& we,& who& have& been&
created&in&His&image&and&likeness,&take&care&of&our&bodies,&as&it&is&written:&For&in&the&image&of&
God&made&He&man'&(Gen.&9:6).”&(Lev.&R.&34:3).&&&
66
&
Bathhouses& are& a& frequent& topic& of& discussion& in& the& sources& of& the& rabbinic& period.& & The&
Talmud& states& that& it& is& forbidden& for& a& scholar& to& live& in& a& city& without& a& bathhouse& (TJ&
Kiddushin& 4:12& check& this& or& TB& Sanhedrin& 17b).& & It& even& offers& a& special& prayer& to& be& said&
upon& entering& a& bathhouse:& & “May& it& be& thy& will,& O& Lord,& my& God,& to& deliver& me& from& the&
flames&of&the&fire&and&the&heat&of&the&water,&and&to&protect&me&from&a&caveWin&&(TJ&Berachot&
9:6,& 14b;& cf.& Ber.& 60a)& & Apparently& the& rabbis& had& similar& concerns& to& ours& about& the&
maintenance&of&infrastructure.&
&
As&noted&above,&many&of&Judaism’s&traditions&related&to&hygiene&and&cleanliness&developed&
through& interplay& between& the& system& of& purification& and& other& more& secular& influences.&&
The&concern&with&bathhouses&is&an&interesting&example.&&The&Bible&describes&several&causes&
of& impurity& which& require& immersion& (tvilah)& in& water.& & Over& time,& this& requirement& led& to&
the&development&of&the&ritual&bath&(mikveh).&&The&symbolism&of&the&ritual&bath&is&very&rich.&&
The& water& in& the& ritual& bath& must& arrive& in& it& untouched& by& human& hands.& & The& word&
“mikveh”&contains&the&same&root&as&the&word&used&in&the&Book&of&Genesis&to&describe&how&
God&gathered&together&the&primordial&waters&to&form&the&land&and&the&sea.&&It&is&related&to&
the&word&for&hope,&and&God&is&sometimes&referred&to&as&“mikveh&Israel”&(the&hope&of&Israel).&&
As&a&practical&matter,&the&necessity&for&a&ritual&bath&dictated&that&every&Jewish&community&
had&to&have&a&bathhouse.&&Because&one&must&be&clean&to&enter&the&ritual&bath,&facilities&for&
washing&for&cleanliness&also&had&to&be&provided.&&&&
&
Hand& washing& is& a& particular& focus& in& Jewish& law.& & The& Book& of& Exodus& includes& the&
instruction&that&a&laver&must&be&placed&outside&the&Tabernacle,&and&the&priests&must&take&the&
water&from&it&to&wash&their&hands&and&feet&before&entering,&and&that&this&“shall&be&a&law&for&
all&time&for&them,&for&him&and&his&offspring,&through&the&ages.”&(Exodus&30:17ff)&&&The&laver,&
which& we& use& until& today& for& ritual& handwashing,& became& the& symbol& associated& with& the&
levites,&who&poured&the&water&onto&the&hands&of&the&priests.&&Halacha&(Jewish&law)&requires&
that&we&wash&our&hands&immediately&upon&awakening&and&before&every&meal.&&&
&
Explanations&for&this&practice&highlight&a&continuing&controversy&over&the&interplay&between&
hygiene&and&purity.&&Some&believe&that&ritual&purity&and&cleanliness&should&be&understood&as&
intimately& related.& & While& others& believe& that& purity& is& a& spiritual& concept& that& has& no&
relationship&to&cleanliness.&&They&explain&that&this&washing&is&a&way&in&which&the&holiness&of&
the& priesthood& has& been& transferred& to& every& Jew.& & In& fact,& the& blessing& we& recite& when&
washing& our& hands& includes& a& peculiar& term.& & We& bless& God& who& has& commanded& us&
concerning&“ntilat&yadayim.”&&This&term&may&be&translated&as&“taking”&or&“raising&up.”&&The&
rabbis&relate&this&to&the&verse:&&&“Lift&your&hands&toward&the&holy&(sanctuary)&and&bless&the&
Lord.”&(Psalms&134:2)&&
&
In& Jewish& tradition,& study& is& a& holy& act& which& has& the& same& significance& as& worship& in& the&
Temple.& & & Jewish& law& explicitly& states& that& places& of& prayer& and& study& must& be& kept& clean.&&
Schoolchildren&must&be&clean&to&study&the&sacred&texts.&&As&soon&as&a&child&can&to&talk,&his&
father& should& begin& to& teach& him,& “however,& one& must& be& exceedingly& careful& to& make&
certain&that&the&child&is&clean&while&being&taught.”&(Kitzur&Shulchan&Aruch,&Chapter&165,&10)&&&
&
Sanitation!
&
Toilet& practices& are& regulated& explicitly& in& one& Biblical& law:& “Further& there& shall& be& an& area&
outside&the&camp,&where&you&may&relieve&yourself.&&With&your&gear&you&shall&have&a&spike,&
and&when&you&have&squatted&you&shall&dig&a&hole&with&it&and&cover&up&your&excrement.&&Since&
67
the&Lord&your&God&moves&about&in&your&camp&to&protect&you&and&to&deliver&your&enemies&to&
you,&let&your&camp&be&holy;&let&Him&not&find&anything&unseemly&among&you&and&turn&away&
from&you.”&(Deuteronomy&23:13W15).&&Some&of&the&Hebrew&terms&in&this&verse&are&unclear&to&
us&today,&but&the&tool&referred&to&may&have&in&fact&been&an&implement&for&digging,&and&the&
place&a&latrine.&
&
It&is&intriguing&that&faeces&are&not&a&source&of&impurity&according&to&the&Bible.&&Some&scholars&
believe&that&the&sources&of&impurity&are&related&to&death&and&what&is&abnormal&in&life.&&This&
view& finds& confirmation& in& the& prayer& recited& upon& elimination,& known& as& the& Asher& Yatzar&
(who& has& created):& & “Blessed& art& thou,& Lord& our& God,& who& has& formed& the& human& being& in&
wisdom,& and& created& in& him& a& system& of& ducts& and& tubes.& & It& is& well& known& before& thy&
glorious&throne&that&if&but&one&of&these&be&opened,&or&if&one&of&those&be&closed,&it&would&be&
impossible&to&exist&in&thy&presence.&&Blessed&art&thou,&God,&who&heals&all&creatures&and&does&
wonders.”&&(TB,&Brachot&60b)&&Certainly&cultivating&an&attitude&of&appreciation&for&the&natural&
functioning&of&the&human&body&and&the&process&of&elimination&may&be&useful&in&overcoming&
the&revulsion&that&may&keep&us&from&properly&managing&human&wastes.&
&
The&disposal&of&human&wastes&is&not&a&separate&category&in&Jewish&law&but&is&addressed&as&
one&of&many&types&of&waste&that&must&be&regulated&to&protect&the&public.&&Thus&general&rules&
about&negligence&and&infringement&on&the&property&of&others&are&applied&to&human&waste.&&
For&example:&&“One&who&pours&water&into&the&public&domain,&and&another&was&injured&by&it,&
is& liable& for& his& injury.& One& who& conceals& a& thorn,& and& glass,& and& makes& his& fence& out& of&
thorns,&or&his&fence&fell&into&the&public&domain,&and&others&were&injured&by&them,&is&liable&for&
their&injury.&&(Mishna,&Baba&Kama&3:2)&
&
Conclusion!
&
Jewish&tradition&provides&us&with&an&array&of&ideas,&practices,&and&laws&that&relate&to&water,&
hygiene&and&sanitation.&&Among&these&we&can&find&those&that&inspire&appreciation&as&well&as&
those& that& direct& our& attention& to& our& responsibilities.& & Perhaps& we& can& learn& from& the&
dynamic&interplay&between&concepts&of&spiritual&purity&and&physical&cleanliness&that&the&two&
are&inseparable.&&If&rain&is&an&expression&of&divine&abundance,&then&the&way&we&manage&it&on&
earth& is& a& responsibility& we& owe& to& God.& If& cleanliness& is& an& expression& of& purity,& then&
enabling& ourselves,& our& neighbours& and& our& children& to& maintain& hygiene,& is& a& spiritual&
challenge.&&Providing&water,&hygiene&and&sanitation&are&ethical&responsibilities.&&We&must&be&
inspired&by&water&as&a&symbol&of&creativity,&abundance&and&purity,&and&manage&it&in&a&way&
that& furthers& justice.& As& the& prophet& Amos& proclaims:& “But& let& justice& well& up& like& water,&
righteousness&like&an&unfailing&stream.”&&(Amos&5:24)&&&
&
References!
&
Benstein,& Jeremy.& (2006)& & The& Way& Into& Judaism& and& the& Environment.& & Woodstock,&
Vermont:&&Jewish&Lights&Publishing.&
&
Bernstein,& Ellen.& (2005)& & The& Splendor& of& Creation:& A& Biblical& Ecology.& Cleveland,& Ohio:& The&
Pilgrim&Press&
&
Blanchard,& Tsvi.& (2002)& Can& Judaism& Make& Environmental& Policy?& & Sacred& and& Secular&
Language&in&Jewish&Ecological&Discourse&in&Ed.&Hava&Tirosh&Samuelson,&Judaism&and&Ecology.&&
Cambridge,&Massachusetts:&&Harvard&University&Press&
&
68
Hutterman,& Aloys& (1998)& & Water& and& Purity:& Microbiology& and& the& Precepts& of& the& Torah,&
Mishnah&and&Talmud.&&The&Annual&of&Rabbinic&Judaism&1:23W36&
&
&
!
17.!The!Zoroastrian!view!of!Conservation!of!Natural!Elements:!“Tanka”!of!
Bharuch!
ZOROASTRIANISM.!Prof.!Kavas!Kapadia!and!Dr.!Shernaz!Cama,!India!!
&
Overview!
&
Cities& are& living& organisms.& In& order& for& the& cities& to& remain& sustainable& it& is& necessary& for&
them& to& remain& within& their& capacity& to& regenerate& their& natural& sub& systems.& The& rapid&
physical& expansion& of& cities,& especially& in& the& developing& world,& has& encroached& upon& the&
vast& resource& of& air,& water,& flora& and& fauna& of& the& hinterland,& which& is& an& essential&
requirement&for&maintaining&the&environment&in&a&holistic&and&organic&manner.&
&
The& failing& traditional& water& harvesting& system& in& India& is& leading& to& an& alarming& status& of&
water& supply& scenario& in& the& Indian& cities.& The& vanishing& systems& of& traditional& water&
collection,& storage& and& supply& assume& significance& and& it& is& important& to& consider& the&
potentials/limitations&of&rejuvenating&some&of&the&traditional&systems.&In&the&Indian&system&
one&of&the&most&potent&ways&of&propagating&this&idea&is&thru&religious&practices.&The&paper&
looks& at& a& couple& of& examples& of& Zoroastrian& houses& in& Bharuch& who& have& kept& alive& the&
tradition&of&water&harvesting.&India&has&a&wide&range&of&ecological&regions&ranging&from&hot&
dry&to&temperate&regions.&&&
&
Except& the& cool& greens& of& the& mountains,& a& large& part& of& the& country& gets& hot& and& dusty&
during&a&long&hard&summer,&which&is&broken&by&a&brief&monsoon.&&&Each&one&of&these&regions&
have,& over& the& years& evolved& a& suitable& means& to& collect,& store& and& use& the& restricted&
quantity& of& water& available.& & The& more& hostile& the& terrain,& the& more& care& was& taken& to&
conserve&scarce&resources.&&Social&controls&ensured&the&collection,&storage&and&distribution,&
as&also&checking&of&wasteful&use/misuse&of&water&to&all&residents&at&all&time.&In&many&small&
towns& of& India,& as& indeed& also& in& Afghanistan& and& Iran,& the& persons& associated& with& the&
indigenous& water& works& (digging& canals& Qunats& of& Iran,& constructing& tanks& and& dams&
including& the& ‘Gabarbands’& –the& system& of& check& dams& Wof& Afghanistan)& were& regarded& as&
the&true&heroes&of&the&community.&&In&India&there&is&a&strong&belief&that&dredging&of&a&temple&
tank&is&one&of&the&most&noble&acts&a&man&could&perform&in&his&life.&Quite&similarly&the&basic&
tenets&of&Zoroastrianism&hold&all&elements&as&sacred&and&water&especially&so.&
&
Harvesting!water!for!survival!
&
Both& in& India& and& in& Iran& traditional& settlements& respected& ecological& sustainability& by&
optimally& using& food,& firewood& water& and& other& natural& resources.& Design& of& the& human&
settlement& was& an& ecological& statement,& between& man& and& the& elements& of& nature& in& the&
most&harmonious&way.&Many&states&in&India&had&different&terms&for&water&storage&systems,&
different&devices&such&as&wells,&ponds,&reservoirs,&dams&and&streams.&1&
&
69
Rainfall& in& India& is& seasonal,& spread& over& roughly& three& months& all& over& the& country.& & The&
runoff&is&swift&and&heavy.&&For&this&reason&rainwater&harvesting&was&as&common&a&practice&as&
the&harvesting&of&the&fields&for&food.&&The&principle&of&rainwater&harvesting&is&to&collect/store&
water& where& it& falls.& & Many& towns& in& the& aired& region& of& Rajasthan& and& parts& of& Gujarat&
optimised&this&system&of&water&catchment&of&a&large&watershed&for&the&community&needs.&
&
The&‘temple&towns’&of&South&India&(Tiruchanpur,&Madurai,&Kanchipuram)&had&huge&tanks&in&
the&heart&of&the&town.&Managed&by&a&temple&trust&the&water&was&kept&unpolluted&and&used&
judiciously.&Large&cities&of&today&(Nainital,&Udaipur,&Mandu,&Nagaur)&had&their&beginning&as&
habitations&clustered&around&lakes.&&Towns&located&on&the&rivers&such&as&Delhi,&Mathura&and&
Brindavan&on&the&Yamuna,&Allahabad,&Varanasi,&Patna,&Calcutta&&&on&the&Ganges&and&Ujjain&
on& the& Kshipra& had& well& defined& and& developed& ‘ghats’& (terraced& riverfront)& for& social& and&
religious& activities.& & Forts& wherever& constructed& as& in& Rajasthan& (Chittorgarh,& Jodhpur,&
Bikaner,& Pushkar,& Ajmer…)& and& Gujarat& (Ahmedabad,& Rajkot,& Junagarh,& Jamnagar,& Bhuj,&
Mehsana…)&contained&a&combination&of&tanks,&step&wells&and&lakes&as&the&major&features&of&
the& towns.& In& many& of& these& towns& and& cities& today& these& systems& have& been& rendered&
redundant&due&to&mindless&development&thereby&causing&flooding&and&health&problems.&&
&
Water&bodies&dictated&the&location&of&temples.&Indeed,&in&the&arid&region&of&Rajasthan&they&
dictated& the& location& of& whole& towns.& Rivers& and& lakes& were& named& after& gods& and&
goddesses,& who& are& depicted& to& be& residing& in& or& close& to& water& bodies.& The& water,& or& the&
deity&residing&in&water&must&be&venerated&with&rituals&and&offerings.&A&typical&step&well&is&a&
series&of&steps&(the&long&flight&broken&by&landings)&leading&to&a&deep&well&lavishly&decorated&
by& arches& and& lintels.& Light& work& is& made& of& heavy& stone& retaining& walls& by& elaborate&
decorations&and&projections.&Step&wells&like&the&helical&‘vav’&in&Pavagarh,&or&the&Rani%ki%bawli&
reflect&a&very&creative&approach,&where&the&stair&itself&gets&sculpturally&transformed&in&to&a&
well&as&one&reaches&the&bottom.&
&
Hindu&as&well&as&Muslim&rulers&have&constructed&step&wells&in&India.&Though&essentially&the&
same& in& nature,& they& vary& in& the& level& of& decoration& and& ornamentation,& the& Muslim&
structures&being&simpler&and&less&ornate.&
&
&
&
The!significance!of!cultural/spiritual!elements!in!Zoroastrianism!
!
The&Zoroastrians,&a&micro&minority&better&known&as&the&Parsees&,&who&migrated&to&India&in&
the&8th&Century&AD&to&&escape&religious&prosecution&in&Iran,&have&a&lot&in&common&with&these&
Hindu&practices.&The&Zoroastrian&tenets&of&‘Asha’&proclaim&and&celebrate&the&sacred&nature&
of&elements&i.e.&fire,&water,&earth&and&air.&The&now&vanishing&predawn&practice&of&‘yashna’&is&
a& daily& prayer& ritual& that& honours& all& creation& by& drawing& a& sample& of& water& from& the& well&
and& returning& it& back& to& the& source& after& the& religious& act& of& consecrating& the& same.& The&
Zoroastrians& treat& water& not& only& as& a& life& giving& entity& but& also& a& living& element.& It& is&
considered& improper& to& ‘disturb’& water& at& night.& Water& bodies& are& to& be& respected& by& not&
crossing& them& but& to& find& land& route& around& the& same& for& fear& of& polluting& the& same.&
Offerings&of&flowers&and&food&is&made&to&water&especially&on&its&‘birthday’,&the&‘Ava%parab’&
celebrates&the&sanctity&and&importance&of&water.&&
&
We&see&from&the&prophet's&own&words,&uttered&over&3000&years&ago,&ideas&that&have&great&
relevance&even&today.&In&the&Gathas&&(Ys.&29)&Gaush&Urva,&the&Soul&of&Creation,&calls&out&in&
anguish&for&a&saviour.&Zarathushtra,&comes&to&earth&to&ensure&total&justice&and&righteousness&
70
for& all& creation.& He& preaches& the& divine& law& of& Asha& or& Cosmic& Truth,& which& is& not& just& for&
human&beings&but&for&every&aspect&of&creation.&Every&aspect&of&being&must&be&treated&with&
justice,& such& justice& ensures& harmony.& Harmony& can& only& be& possible& when& there& is& no&
exploitation&or&degradation&of&creation.&In&the&21st&century,&we&are&still&struggling&to&achieve&
human&rights.&In&the&Bronze&Age,&prophet&Zarathushtra,&spoke&in&the&Gathas,&of&the&rights&of&
plant& and& animal,& mineral& and& waters,& of& reverence& and& nurture& of& all& Spenta& (Bounteous)&
Creation.&&
&
Many& festivals& and& social& rituals& coincide& with& the& arrival& of& the& monsoons.& Water& related&
rituals&dominate&religious&celebrations,&death&rituals&and&special&social&occasions.&
&&
The&Zoroastrians&follow&the&ritual&prayers&to&Ava$Yazata&Wthe&guardian&of&waters.&&In&Iran&the&
water& harvesting& and& wind& towers& of& the& Zoroastrian& settlements& continue& ancient&
traditions.&&With&and&legends&of&the&Oral&tradition&come&together&on&the&occasion&of&Tirgan,%
in& praise& of& Tir% Yazata& who& brings& rain,& at& the& time& of& the& heat& of& summer.& Adar% Roj,&
honouring&fire,&Bahman%Mahino,&paying&respect&to&the&animal&world&are&just&a&few&examples&
of&the&interconnectedness&of&all&being.&The&festivals,&rituals&and&texts&of&Zoroastrianism&thus&
exemplify&Zoroaster's&holistic&vision&and&environmental&consciousness.&2!
&
The& Zoroastrian& Calendar& its& rites& and& rituals,& then& stress& environmental& awareness& and&
teach& a& holistic& approach& to& daily& life& through& the& interweaving& of& all& aspects& of& Ahura&
Mazda's& Good& Creation.& Reverence,& care& and& compassion& for& the& earth& are& inculcated&
primarily& through& the& theology& of& the& Amesha& Spenta& and& Yazatas,& divinities& after& whom&
each&day&of&the&month&and&each&month&of&the&year&is&dedicated.!
Spenta%Armaiti,&"Bounteous&Devotion",&Haurvatat,&"Health"&and&Ameretat&"Immortality"&are&
the& last& three& Amesha& Spenta.& & Armaiti& is& feminine,& she& is& the& constant& companion& of& the&
Zoroastrian& for& only& through& devotion& can& man& travel& to& God.& & She& is& identified& with& the&
Earth&Mother&and&at&death&man&is&left&in&her&care.&&&
&
The& twin& spirits& of& Health& and& Immortality& are& always& spoken& of& together& in& Zoroaster's&
Gathas.%Haurvatat,&spiritual&wholesomeness&or&Health&is&the&perfection&of&life&and&Ameretat%
or&Immortality&is&the&freedom&from&death,&which&inevitably&accompanies&perfection.&Water,&
upon& which& all& life& depends,& is& assigned& to& Haurvatat% and& the& plant& Kingdom& comes& under&
the& care& of& Ameretat.& & Because& Health& is& the& perfection& of& man's& life& on& earth& and&
Immortality& the& eternal& reward& for& the& soul& in& the& next& world,& these& twin& divinities& grant&
happiness&now&and&forever.&&&
&
Zoroaster&assigned&man&to&the&care&of&Ahura&Mazda&Himself&W&through&His&Holy&Spirit&Spenta%
Mainyu.&Thus,&through&the&doctrine&of&the&Amesha&Spenta,&Zoroaster&weaves&together&the&
abstract&and&the&concrete,&material&and&spiritual,&once&against&stressing&the&harmony&that&is&
the&ultimate&goal&of&life.&&&
&
One& can& see& a& level& of&devotion&and&care&in&the&construction&of&water&related&elements&as&
was&bestowed&on&temples,&palaces&and&havelis&(rich&man’s&mansions).&Be&it&an&embankment&
of&a&‘ghat’&,a&step&well&or&a&tank&in&India&as&was&the&case&of&the&covered&water&tanks&in&Iran.&
The&architecture&is&extremely&rich&and&meaningful.”&This,&for&someone&not&from&the&desert,&
might& seem& extravagant& and& excessive& but& once& the& value& of& water& is& realized& one& can&
appreciate&the&manifestations&in&construction&to&hold&and&access&it”.&&
&
The!decline!of!indigenous!systems!
71
!
As& uncontrolled& development& took& place& blocking& or& altering& the& natural& path& of& flow& of&
water& channels,& these& traditional& systems& of& water& harvesting& lost& importance.& Also& the&
British&system&of&planning&saw&water&as&a&centralized&service,&with&no&understanding&of&the&
socio&cultural&significance&of&the&traditional&water&systems&
&
All&this&has&led&to&the&issue&of&water&supply&in&the&towns&of&India&as&one&of&the&most&crucial&
problems&of&today.&
&
In& the& aired& state& of& Gujarat,& water& has& always& played& a& very& dominant& role& in& the& socialW
cultural& life& of& people.& Perpetual& shortage& of& water& has& inspired& people& to& appreciate& the&
value&of&conserving&and&storing&this&resource&in&all&conceivable&ways.&The&city&of&Bharuch,&a&
small& town& (populate& 1,50,000& as/2001& census& of& India)& though& situated& on& the& river&
Narmada,& shows& dependence& on& ground& water& for& its& survival.& Like& many& other& rivers& in&
India& the& flow& in& the& Narmada& in& summers& is& minimal& and& pollution& levels& high.& Bharuch&
today&exemplifies&the&small&Indian&town&in&many&ways.&The&municipal&water&supply,&at&best&is&
just&enough&to&cover&basic&needs&of&the&people.&Long&queues&at&the&public&distribution&stand&
posts& indicate& shortage.& Over& dependence& on& the& well& water& has& rendered& many& a& well&
brackish&the&water&table&to&fall&deeper.&
&
The& system& of& collecting& rain& water& falling& on& your& roof& top,& locally& know& as& the& “tanka”& is&
still&practiced&by&a&handful&of&persons,&mainly&the&Parsees,&the&Zoroastrians&who&brought&the&
consciousness& of& water& related& rituals& and& the& concept& of& harvesting& water& from& ancient&
Iran.&
&
All&the&tankas&are&very&old&structures&&W&often&more&than&100&years&old.&
&
The!“tanka”!of!Bharuch!
!
The&‘Tanka’&is&an&underground&tank,&accommodated&inside&the&house,&preferably&under&the&
kitchen&or&dining&room,&made&of&chiselled&blocks&of&stone,&in&lime&mortar,&unlined&but&made&
waterproof&by&a&indigenous&herbal&mix.&The&ingredients&of&this&mix&is&not&recorded&but&the&
quality& of& this& mix& was& not& only& to& render& the& inside& surface& waterproof& and& seal& minor&
cracks& but& mainly& to& prevent& the& bacteriological& growth& inside& the& tanka.& The& size& of& the&
tanka&is&large&enough&to&store&sufficient&drinking&water&for&a&family&for&six&to&eight&months.&
An& average& storing& capacity& of& the& tanka& is& around& 25,000& litres.& Some& tankas& are& virtually&
like&independent&cellars&with&8&to&10&feet&of&filling&over&them.&With&sizes&reaching&nearly20&
feet& by& 60& feet& and& height& of& 12& feet,& arches& and& vaults& were& needed& to& support& the&
earthwork&and&the&superstructure&on&top&of&the&tanka.&
&
Since&the&bottom&of&the&tanka&was&well&below&the&lowest&level&of&the&house,&there&was&no&
outlet&of&water&provided.&When&it&has&to&be&cleaned&it&must&be&emptied&manually.&Almost&all&
tankas& are& large& enough& for& people& to& entire& and& walk/work& inside.& The& tanka& floor& slopes&
into&a&sump&right&under&the&point&from&where&the&water&is&drawn&out.&
&
The& tanka& feeds& on& the& rainwater& collected& through& roof& runoff.& A& simple& system& of&
collection,& via& a& 3”& to& 4”& pipe,& depends& on& successive& sumps& whose& water& is& collected& and&
overflows&on&it’s&way&to&the&tanka,&and&settled&impurities&are&flushed&out&thru&an&overflow&
pipe.&In&fact&the&total&water&runoff&of&the&first&couple&of&days&of&rainy&seasons,&is&just&made&to&
run& down& the& overflow& pipe,& ensuring& a& maximum& cleaning& of& all& surfaces& in& contact& with&
water.&When&the&owner&is&certain&of&the&cleanliness&(this&is&done&by&constant&visual&testing&
72
and& actual& tasting& of& water)& the& overflow& is& plugged.& That& starts& to& direct& the& flow& of& the&
water&into&the&tanka.&The&tanka&has&a&hatch&cover,&which&is&kept&closed&except&for&the&time&
when&water&is&needed&to&be&pulled&out&as&out&of&a&well,&by&a&bucket&on&a&pulley.&The&water&
retention& capacity& of& these& tanks& which& is& seen& in& the& form& of& a& particular& ‘danger& level’&
indicated&inside&the&tank&by&the&depiction&of&a&sculptured&‘fish’&form&along&the&inlet&neck&of&
the& tanka.& Filling& the& tank& above& this& mark& was& considered& dangerous& as& the& hydraulic&
pressure&inside&may&well&exceed&the&retaining&capacity&of&the&tank&wall.&
&
The&tanka&is&filled&gradually&till&the&‘fish’&mark&and&then&is&stored&away&to&be&used&after&the&
rains& have& stopped.& The& clean& conditions& of& collection,& storage& and& once& in& a& while&
ventilation&by&opening&the&hatch&(which&is&incidentally,&so&placed&that&direct&sunlight&never&
enters&the&tanka),&trap&door&and&using&the&water&judiciously&makes&the&tanka&water&a&most&
precious& resource& specially& in& the& hot& summer& months.& Most& owners& clean& the& tanka& only&
once&in&5&to&10&years.&The&water&quality&has&been&tested&and&found&to&be&potable&quality.&
&
The&system&survives&today&due&to&the&sheer&belief&and&tenacity&of&the&few&people&who&use&
this&system.&It&is&disheartening&to&know&that&there&are&others&in&the&town&who&consider&the&
presence& of& the& tanka& in& the& house& as& a& nuisance& and& would& rather& have& it& filled& up& or&
permanently& closed& off.& In& fact& some& old& residences& when& sold& to& new& owners& completely&
demolish&the&same,&including&the&tanka,&and&rebuild&in&the&‘modernWBombay&style’&flats.&
&
The!need!of!the!hour!
&
This& attitude& has& taken& a& heavy& toll& on& the& social,& cultural& and& heritage& front.& Historical&
buildings& of& heritage& value& lie& unprotected& and& vandalized.& Traditional& water& systems&
depended& heavily& on& the& coordinated& operation& of& the& society.& The& society& at& large& must&
recognize& and& care& for& the& traditional& systems.& The& easy& availability& of& water& and& a& lack& of&
community& feeling& among& the& residents& have& combined& to& destroy& the& water& harvesting&
systems& .& Public& awareness& and& education& in& this& regard& is& of& extreme& importance.& It& will&
need&an&effort&much&beyond&mere&rules&and&legislation&to&set&things&right.&Perhaps&a&divine&
intervention.&
&
As&is&the&Zoroastrian&belief,&to&restore&the&world&to&its&perfect&stage,&Ahura%Mazda&needs&the&
help&of&all&beneficent&being&and&finally&this&will&culminate&in&the&Frashokereti%or&Renewal&of&
existence& when& all& wounds& heal& and& evil& is& destroyed.& The& rituals& of& the& religion,& some& of&
which& have& survived& from& preWhistory,& are& therefore& concerned& with& the& nurture& and&
protection&of&all&creation&and&the&need&to&preserve&it&from&destructive&evil.&
&
If&ever&an&intervention&was&required&to&bring&man&and&nature&together&again&in&our&city&–it&is&
now.&The&message&is&now&very&clear&that&issues&of&common&concerns&–issues&such&as&water&
supplyW&will&need&to&be&tackled&jointly&by&the&government&and&the&people&themselves.&&
If& the& neighbourhood& social& organisations& with& a& little& help& from& Non& Govt.& Organisations&
(NGO’s)&get&into&the&act&even&now&they&could&find&a&few&systems&of&water&storage&that&can&
be& rejuvenated.& The& efforts& of& PARZOR,& the& project& initiated& by& UNESCO& to& document& and&
conserve&the&traditional&practices&and&customs&of&Parsee&Zoroastrians&in&India,&are&laudable&
in&this&regard.&“Only&when&that&whole&or&unit&of&continuity,&which&has&been&destroyed&by&the&
presence&of&conflicting&factors&has&been&restored&in&another&whole......can&we&claim&validity&
for&our&procedure.”&4!!
&
!
References!
73
!
1&Dying&WisdomW&Anil&Agarwal&and&Sunita&Narayan&(Ed),Centre&for&Science&and&Environment.&
2."Asha:&The&Law&of&Harmony,&A&Study&of&Environmental&Consciousness&in&Zoroastrian&
Rituals"W&Shernaz&Sethna&Cama&
3&Architecture&of&India&Desert&–&Kulbhushan&&&Minakshi&Jain&–&AADI&Centre&Ahmedabad&–&
India.&
4.&Sidney&Hook,&“From&Hegel&to&Marx”,&London,&1936.&
&
18.!Faith!in!Water:!Ideas,!Inspiration!and!Stories!
ZOROASTRIANISM.!Dr!Rooyintan!Peshotan!Peer!
&
&
Introduction!
!
Zoroastrianism& is& one& of& the& most& ancient& religions& of& the& world,& and& the& most& important&
factor&about&it&is&that&it&is&the&religion&of&Nature.&It&reveres&all&the&basic&natural&elements&and&
creations&in&their&original&forms.&
&
Zoroastrianism&as&a&religion&flourished&through&the&ancient&Iranian&civilization.&&It&belongs&to&
the&Aryan&group&of&religions&and&people&of&the&IndoW&European&stock.&&The&geographical&areas&
covered&in&the&scriptures&are&right&from&the&North&Arctic&regions&downwards&towards&Central&
Asia&and&then&towards&what&is&present&day&Iran&and&the&entire&neighbouring&areas&of&Pamir&
Mountains& region& and& Azerbaijan& and& other& regions& on& the& other& side& of& the& Caspian& Sea.&&
The& religion& is& named& so& after& its& prophet& Zarathushtra& (called& Zoroaster& “by& the&
Greeks”).The&language&and&the&scriptures&are&both&known&by&the&term&‘&AVESTA’.&
&
In&the&Zoroastrian&religion&therefore,&Ahura&Mazda&is&considered&the&Supreme&Creator&of&the&
Universe.& & As& such& all& natural& creations,& and& all& types& of& natural& phenomena& through& the&
function&of&heavenly&bodies&and&material&creations&are&considered&to&be&the&actions&of&Ahura&
Mazda.& I& in& the& Zoroastrian& Religion& these& are& understood& through& the& concept& of& Amesha&
Spentas&and&different&Yazatas.&&All&these&are&therefore&different&attributes&of&Ahura&Mazda&
himself,& and& through& them,& each& of& these& different& Universal& aspects& is& understood& clearly&
and& separately,& e.g.& Fire& through& Asha& Vashista,& Vegetation& through& Ameretat& and& so& on.&&
The&difference&between&the&Amesha&Spentas&and&the&Yazatas&is&very&important,&in&that&the&
former&are&the&immortal&type&of&creations&whereas&the&latter&represent&specific&aspects.&For&
instance,& Haurvatat& is& the& Amesha& Spenta& presiding& over& Water& itself,& whereas& the& Yazata&
Tishtriya&presides&over&rainWmaking.&&&
&
Divinities!of!Water!
!
In&the&Zoroastrian&Theology,&three&divinities&are&assigned&to&the&Creation&of&Water.&&&
&
• first&is&Haurvatat&an&Amesha&Spenta&presiding&over&Water;&&
• second&is&Tishtriya&Yazata&presiding&over&the&formation&of&rain&upon&this&earth,&
• third& is& the& female& divinity& Avan& (Ardivisura& Anahita)& representing& the& force&
arising& out& of& all& types& of& liquids,& fluids,& and& saps& in& Nature& and& being& seen& as&
being&feminine&in&nature.&&&
74
&
A&fascinating&feature&of&Tishtrya&and&the&entire&procedure&of&rainWmaking&on&the&earth&is&not&
only&its&physical&aspect&but&a&deep&astronomical&pattern&underlying&it.&That&Iranians&in&those&
ancient&times&were&very&well&advanced&in&the&field&of&astronomy&is&amply&testified&through&
the&contents&of&specific&Yashts&W&Hymns.&&The&very&fact&that&the&most&brilliant&star&in&the&sky&is&
connected&with&the&work&of&rainmaking,&imply&astronomical&connotations.&&As&is&well&known,&
the& Iranian& society& of& those& times& was& primarily& an& agrarian& one,& and& the& people& have&
obviously& to& depend& on& the& cycle& of& the& monsoon.& & The& Iranian& people,& and& of& course& the&
whole&of&nature,&watched&the&heliacal&rising&of&Tishtrya&for&the&result&of&the&succeeding&year.&&&
&
As&stated&in&paragraph&36:&&*We&worship&the&radiant&and&glorious&star&Tishtrya&–&For&whose&
rising& humanity& which& lives& by& the& fruits& of& the& year& (i.e.& who& go& by& the& season),& and& the&
chiefs&of&deep&understanding,&the&wild&beasts&wandering&on&the&mountains,&the&hedgehogs,&
and& the& animals& that& wander& wild& at& large,& desire& eagerly.& Because,& the& way& it& rises,& (it)&
becomes&the&year&of&fertility&(or)&the&year&of&famine&for&the&country.&&It&is&so&significant&that&
among&the&several&epithets&of&Tishtrya,&one&is&‘afshWchithra;&i.e.&‘having&the&seeds&of&water’&
or& ‘of& watery& nature’.& & His& mythology& concerns& itself& primarily& with& various& aspects& of&
hydrology.&
&
The& great& longing& to& see& Tishtrya& and& the& repeated& question& in& the& Yasht& –& Hymn& W& “when&
shall&the&bright&and&glorious&Tishtrya&rise&for&us”&points&to&a&period&of&entire&disappearance&
i.e.&the&period&between&the&heliacal&setting&and&rising.&The&rains&then&come&after&the&heliacal&
rising&of&Tishtrya.&&&
&
Then& there& is& this& classic& narration& of& the& war& between& Tishtrya& and& the& opponent& demon&
Apaosha.& & (‘He& who& burns& the& watery& or& rainy& clouds’).& & Where& there& is& a& hero,& there& is& a&
corresponding&villain&too,&and&in&this&case&it&is&Apaosha,&the&demon&causing&drought.&&In&the&
first& series& of& battle,& Tishtrya& is& projected& as& having& been& overcome& by& Apaosha,& and&
whereby& he& complains& to& Ahura& Mazda& about& the& people& on& earth& not& remembering& him&
and&not&worshipping&him&through&the&celebrated&Yasna.&&Then&Ahura&Mazda&relates&this&to&
humanity,&and&upon&proper&worship&by&the&people,&Tishtrya&gets&again&renewed&vigour&and&
support,&and&drives&away&Apasosha.&&&
&
This& aspect& is& very& significant& and& echoes& the& concept& of& ecology& and& environment& in& the&
matter.& & It& tries& to& show& that& ultimately& the& cycle& of& rainfall& depends& in& the& hands& of& the&
people,& and& how& they& coWordinate& with& the& forces& of& Nature& (and& this& is& what& we& are&
experiencing&precisely&at&present),&&After&the&battle&is&over,&and&Tishtrya&being&victorious,&it&is&
described& in& paragraph& 31& as& ‘ho& zrayo& ayaozayeiti,& ho& zraiyo& vivaozayeiti,& ho& zrayo&
agzharayeiti,& ho& zrayo& vigzharayeiti’& –& ‘He& (Tishtrya)& causes& the& sea& (Vourukasha)& to& be&
agitated,&to&surge&exceedingly,&he&causes&the&waters&of&the&sea&to&overflow&exceedingly.’&
&
Now&to&a&geologist,&the&description&may&lead&to&conclude&that&the&original&inland&sea&basin&
had& suffered& a& coastal& subsidence& thus& broadening& or& expanding& its& shores.& & Similarly,& the&
demon& Apaosha& which& causes& the& sea& arid& or& dry& or& waterless& is& nothing& but& the&
phenomenon&of&upheaval&which&generally&precedes&the&phenomenon&of&subsidence.&
&
But&the&most&vivid&description&of&the&natural&element&of&water&is&represented&by&the&female&
divinity&called&‘Aredvi’&in&the&Avesta,&with&the&epithets&‘sura’&and&‘anahita’&(‘brave&and&pure’).&&
In&later&forms,&she&is&known&as&‘Avan’.&&At&the&outset,&on&the&physical&level,&she&is&portrayed&
as& a& beautiful& maiden,& highly& girded& up& with& different& types& of& ornaments,& and& riding& a&
chariot& with& four& horses.& & She& is& the& coWworker& of& the& mother& Earth,& and& presides& over& all&
75
types&of&flowing&water&and&liquids,&fluids&and&saps&in&Nature.&&A&large&Yasht&is&dedicated&in&
the&honour&of&the&divinity&&As&stated&in&the&Avan&Yasht,&she&helps&in&the&purification&of&the&
seeds&of&men,&the&wellWbeing&of&pregnant&women’s&wombs,&provision&of&substantial&milk&to&
mothers&after&childWbirth&as&well&as&facilitating&easy&childWbirth.&&&
&
In&this&way,&she&helps&all&mankind&through&generations&to&come.&&She&pervades&over&not&only&
masses&of&flowing&water&in&this&physical&world&but&also&over&body&fluids,&bearing&in&mind&that&
the&earth&comprises&nearly&70%&water&masses&as&also&the&human&body.&&The&major&part&of&
the&Avan&Yasht&comprises&of&historical&value&starting&from&Ahura&Mazda&himself&and&prophet&
Zarathushtra&and&then&all&other&wellWknown&Iranian&Kings&and&heroes&who&worship&her&and&
ask& for& such& boons& as& would& benefit& the& mankind.& & This& itself& shows& the& tremendous&
importance& of& the& elements& of& water.& & An& interesting& concept& among& this& is& that& the& evil&
rulers&also&tried&to&worship&her&and&asked&for&the&boons,&which&would&cause&destruction&to&
nature&and&the&Iranian&civilization,&but&such&boons&were&not&granted&to&them&by&Avan.&
&
This& female& divinity& Avan,& through& her& physical& image,& and& through& the& characteristics& and&
functions& described& in& the& Yasht,& has& made& a& huge& impact& on& the& followers& of& the&
Zoroastrian& religion.& & Historically& speaking,& she& is& one& of& the& two& Iranian& divinities& (other&
being&‘Mithra’)&to&have&influenced&the&Greeks&and&the&Romans,&who&had&come&into&contact&
with&the&Persians&through&wars&and&other&such&factors,&that&temples&were&consecrated&in&her&
honour&in&the&name&of&‘Anahita’.&&Even&at&present&among&the&Parsi&Zoroastrians&worldwide,&
she&shines&as&one&of&the&most&popular&divinities.&&Her&name&is&commonly&assigned&to&female&
members&of&the&community,&and&a&full&month&in&the&Parsi&calendar&is&assigned&to&her.&&&
&
She&is&like&a&super&heroine&particularly&among&the&female&members&who&revere&and&worship&
her&in&their&search&for&a&suitable&male&match,&in&giving&easy&childWbirths,&providing&abundant&
milk& and& so& on.& & On& one& particular& day& in& her& month,& a& sort& of& her& birthday& is& being&
celebrated& in& a& unique& manner.& & A& majority& of& the& members& of& the& Parsi& Zoroastrian&
community&congregate&in&masses&at&the&beaches,&sea&fronts,&river&and&lakesides&and&besides&
any&other&natural&source&of&water&in&their&vicinities,&and&offer&prayers&to&her,&and&praise&her.&
Decades&ago,&&the&great&American&industrialist&and&philanthropist&Andrew&Carnegie&had&the&
privilege& to& witness& one& such& occasion& in& Bombay,& and& it& is& worthwhile& to& understand& the&
impression&of&such&a&spectacle&generated&in&his&mind,&in&his&own&words.&&&
&
&
He&states:&&
&
“This&evening&we&were&surprised&to&see,&as&we&strolled&along&the&beach,&more&Parsees&than&
ever&before,&and&more&Parsee&ladies,&richly&dressed,&all&wending&their&way&towards&the&sea.&
Here& on& the& shore& of& the& ocean,& as& the& sun& was& sinking& in& the& sea,& and& the& slender& silver&
thread& of& the& crescent& moon& was& faintly& shining& on& the& horizon,& they& congregated& to&
perform&their&religious&rites.&Fire&was&there&in&its&grandest&form,&the&setting&sun,&and&water&
in& the& vast& expanse& of& the& Indian& Ocean& outstretched& before& them.& The& earth& was& under&
their&feet,&and,&wafted&across&the&sea,&the&air&came&laden&with&the&perfumes&of&‘Araby&the&
Blest’.&Surely,&no&time&or&place&could&be&more&fitly&chosen&than&this&for&lifting&up&the&soul&to&
the&realms&beyond&seas.”&
&&
Carnegie&added,&“I&could&not&but&participate&with&these&worshippers&in&what&was&so&grandly&
beautiful.&There&was&no&music&save&the&solemn&moan&of&the&waves&as&they&broke&into&foam&
on& the& beach.& But& where& shall& we& find& so& mighty& an& organ,& or& so& grand& an& anthem?& How&
inexpressibly&sublime&the&scene&appeared&to&me&and&how&insignificant&and&unworthy&of&the&
76
unknown&seemed&even&our&cathedrals&made&with&human&hands,&when&compared&with&this&
looking& up& through& nature& unto& natures& God!& I& stood& and& drank& in& the& serene& happiness,&
which& seemed& to& fill& the& air.& I& have& seen& many& modes& and& forms& of& worship& –& some&
disgusting,&others&saddening,&a&few&elevating&when&the&organ&pealed&forth&its&tones,&but&all&
poor&in&comparison&with&this.&Nor&do&I&expect&in&all&my&life&to&witness&a&religious&ceremony&
which&will&so&powerfully&affect&me&as&that&of&the&Parsees&on&the&beach&of&Bombay.”&
&
According& to& the& Zoroastrian& religion,& every& fire& temple& is& required& to& have& a& well& as& a&
natural& source& of& water,& sometimes& more& than& one.& & The& presence& of& water& is& the& main&
requisite& for& all& the& rituals& and& ceremonies.& & The& higher& ceremonies& begin& with& the& ritual&
drawing&of&water&from&the&well,&and&ends&with&ritual&reWpouring&of&the&same&into&the&well.&&
Different& types& of& natural& sources& of& water& are& described& in& the& scriptures& like& the& flowing&
waters,&the&spring&waters,&the&waters&of&seas&and&oceans&etc.&with&the&scientific&explanation&
about&how&the&flowing&waters&being&beneficent&over&the&stagnant&waters.&
&
The& Parsis& in& India& had& settled& down& primarily& in& the& southern& parts& of& Gujarat& on& the&
western& coast.& & This& geographical& area& is& considered& to& be& a& natural,& fertile& region& with&
innumerable&rivers&and&rivulets&flowing&through&the&same.&&The&Parsis,&through&their&innate&
reverence&for&water,&helped&the&region&to&flourish&and&prosper.&&But&as&they&spread&out&to&
different&areas&later&on,&they&had&to&deal&with&more&dry&and&arid&regions&with&hot&and&long&
Indian& summers.& They& therefore& adapted& to& these& situations& with& measures& like& rain&
harvesting&and&storage&of&water&through&different&devices.&&&
&
One&such&old&tradition&is&to&be&found&in&the&city&of&Bharuch&in&Gujarat,&and&the&‘tanka’&system&
developed&there&by&the&Parsis&is&considered&to&be&architectural&marvels&and&worth&emulating&
the& same& in& present& circumstances.& & The& Parzor& project& supported& by& UNESCO& is& seized& of&
this&matter,&and&working&upon&it&(Another&speaker&in&the&workshop&would&dwell&upon&this&in&
detail).&&A&Parsi&gentleman&by&the&name&of&Mr.&Khambatha&has&been&doing&pioneering&work&
in&the&matter&of&rain&harvesting&in&and&around&a&place&called&MHOW&in&Madhya&Pradesh&and&
elsewhere.&
&
&A& religion& is& known& as& the& ‘living& religion’& when& its& tenets& are& followed& properly& by& the&
members& of& the& community,& and& certain& traditions,& customs,& practices& and& institutions& are&
established& accordingly& on& a& practical& basis.& & Like& the& element& of& fire& being& venerated& in&
Zoroastrianism& as& a& central& factor& has& resulted& in& establishments& of& the& fireWtemples& and&
ways& and& means& of& worshipping& the& same.& & Similarly,& the& natural& element& of& water& is&
considered& the& life& force& for& mankind,& and& therefore& has& been& attributed& with& utmost&
importance.& & The& members& of& the& Parsi& Zoroastrian& community& are& taught& from& the&
childhood&by&the&means&of&stories&and&practices&for&giving&due&reverence&to&the&water.&&&
&
The& Zoroastrian& religion& lays& great& stress& on& the& concept& of& cleanliness& and& purity,& both&
physical&and&spiritual.&&It&teaches&that&the&purity&of&the&mind&and&soul&could&be&achieved&only&
through& the& purity& of& the& physical& body.& & The& wellWknown& French& scholar& Prof& James&
Darmesteter&has&stated&that&for&the&Parsis&the&axiom&‘cleanliness&is&next&to&godliness’&is&not&
sufficient.& & For& them& ‘cleanliness& is& godliness& itself’.& & And& for& this& purpose& of& keeping& the&
physical& body& pure,& the& use& of& water& is& greatly& imperative.& Accordingly,& the& aspect& of&
personal& hygiene& also& attracts& much& significance.& & In& order& to& achieve& the& desired& levels& of&
hygiene&and&purity,&a&series&of&religious&observations&(known&as&‘tariqats’)&are&prescribed.&&&
&
For&the&priestly&class,&these&‘tariqats’&are&to&be&followed&on&a&very&high&level.&Some&of&these&
common&‘tariqats’&entail&frequent&washing&of&hands,&feet&and&other&open&parts&of&the&body&
77
like& after& coming& out& of& toilets,& before& partaking& of& the& meals,& after& the& meals& and& so& on.&&
The& life& span& of& individual& members& and& thereby& that& of& the& whole& community& very& much&
depends&on&the&adherence&of&such&observations&in&the&nature.&&And&the&Parsee&community&is&
indeed& a& shinning& example& in& this& matter.& & The& prosperity& of& a& country& or& a& nation& also&
depends&upon&the&climate&with&its&water&content.&&There&are&several&examples&in&the&history&
of&the&world&where&the&onceWprosperous&nations&had&their&downfall&with&the&climatic&change&
as&one&of&the&major&factors.&&The&case&of&ancient&Iran&is&also&one&such&example.&
&
&
&
Secular!Contributors!
20.!Clean!Water!Now!!
CWN.!Evert!Groeneveld,!the!Netherlands!
&
&
The&topics&of&water,&sanitation&and&hygiene&on&the&one&side&and&children&on&the&other&are&of&
the&greatest&importance&for&the&health&conditions&of&the&coming&generations.&By&organizing&
this&workshop&the&Alliance&of&Religions&and&Conservation&(ARC)&has&shown&that&these&topics&
lie&at&the&surface&of&its&consciousness&and&close&to&its&heart.&As&these&are&also&the&paramount&
concerns& of& Clean& Water& Now& (CWN),& this& HollandWbased& NGO& has& dedicated& itself& to&
bringing& clean& healthy& drinking& water& to& children& in& some& of& the& many& parts& of& the& world&
where&the&quality&of&drinking&water&is&threatened.&&
&
Our&mission&is&to&make&access&to,&and&availability&of,&safe&drinking&water&as&simple&and&cheap&
as& possible,& and& we& do& this& by& developing& and& distributing& the& ‘Naiade’& disinfecting& unit,&
developed& by& Clean& Water& Now!& And& its& partner,& the& Dutch& electronics& company,& Nedap,&
which&is&described&in&this&paper.&
&
CWN&is&very&honoured&to&be&invited&to&contribute&to&this&workshop&and&participate&actively&
in& the& important& goals& of& the& workshop& and& of& ARC.& We& were& asked,& by& Allerd& Stikker& of&
EMF,&and&by&Martin&Palmer&of&ARC&to&give&you&information&about&three&areas&of&our&work;&
&
1. How!the!Naiade!disinfecting!unit!offers!safe!drinkingYwater!!
2. Our!experience!with!the!unit!up!till!now!
3. The!Clean!Water!for!Children!Foundation!
&
78
1.&How!the!Naiade!disinfecting!unit!offers!safe!drinking!water!!
&
Clean& Water& Now& has& developed& a& unique& solution& to& the& problem.& The& Naiade& is& a& standW
alone&unit&that&uses&solar&energy&and&ultra&violet&light&technology&to&strip&the&available&water&
from&biological&pollution&and&wormWeggs.&Through&the&use&of&solar&energy&the&Naiade&can&be&
installed& at& any& place,& anywhere.& Even& when& villages& are& remote& with& no& electricity,& the&
Naiade&only&requires&the&energy&of&the&sun!&It&also&uses&no&chemicals;&so&there&is&no&chemical&
waste&and&no&chemical&pollution.&
&
How!it!works:!!
!
&
•
Simple! and! easy& Water& is& poured& into& the& Naiade& at& the& top.& There& are& several&
effective&purification&steps,&among&which&a&sophisticated&filtering&system&and&a&UV&
reactor.&Clean&healthy&drinkingWwater&flows&from&the&tap,&the&solar&panel&produces&
the& required& energy.& And& as& there& are& no& moving& parts,& the& Naiade& requires& a&
minimum&of&maintenance.&Although&it&works&with&solar energy&thanks&to&a&back&up&
car&battery&it&can&still&provide&safe&water&at&dawn&or&dusk,&and&in&heavy&monsoons.&&
79
•
•
•
•
Automatic!stop.&The&water&circulation&stops&automatically&when&the&filter&is&clogged&
or&removed&or&when&the&UV&light&does&not&meet&its&specifications&
High! Quality.& The& quality& of& the& water& coming& out& of& the& tap& is& guaranteed.&
Especially& for& schoolchildren& it& is& of& the& highest& importance& to& be& sure& about& the&
quality&of&water&they&drink.&
2500! litres! a! day.& The& unit& treats& up& to& a& maximum& of& 2500& litres& of& water& a& day.&
Storage& reservoirs& can& be& used& for& untreated& as& well& as& for& disinfected& and&
dewormed&water&in&order&to&avoid&“traffic&jams”.&
Sustainability! :& the& Naiade& lasts& for& over& 10& years.& The& UV& lamp& has& a& lifespan& of&&&
between&two&and&three&years.&
!
YOUTUBE!video:!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Njq4hQYQw0!
&
Practical!benefits!
!
• Safe&drinkingWwater&for&over&10&years&
• Low&maintenance&costs&
• Easy&availability&of&spare&parts&&
• StandWalone&operations,&independent&of&energy&resources&
• Takes&two&hours&to&install&
• Easy&to&operate&
• Robust&design&
• Leaves&the&healthy&minerals&in&the&water&
• Additional&modules&available&to&remove&arsenic&and&fluoride&&
• Additional& modules& planned& for& removing& chromium& from& the& water& and& for&
improvement&of&taste&and&smell&
&
Results!
!
• Significant& reduction& of& diarrhoea& and& tropical& diseases& like& cholera,& typhoid&
fever,&hepatitis&A&and&dysentery&
• Better&health&for&children&and&adults&
• Lower&child&mortality&&
• Less&drudgery&for&children&and&women&
• Less&deterioration&of&the&environment&
• Better&productivity&and&economic&development&
• ReWuse&of&water&in&waterWscarce&areas&
&
Costs!
!
A&Naiade&costs&€3500&exWfactory,&plus&transport&and&customs&duties.&So&in&schools&with&1000&
students& the& Naiade& can& provide& each& student& with& 2.5& litres& safe& drinking& water& a& day& for&
less&than&1p&per&week.&According&to&World&Health&Organization&statements,&every&euro&spent&
on& water& quality& results& in& a& €10W20& reduction& of& medical& costs,& and& an& incalculable&
improvement&in&productivity&and&economic&development.&Financing&is&often&most&effective&
through&microcredit,&and&with&NGO&or&intragovernmental&agency&support&can&be&a&great&tool&
for&development.&
&
Testing!and!awards!
!
80
The&Naiade&has&been&tested&very&positively&in&the&field&by&many&independent&bodies.&These&
include:&the&University&of&Istanbul;&the&UNESCOWIHE&Institute&of&Water&education;&the&official&
water&research&centre&of&Ghana;&the&Ministry&of&Water&and&Livestock&Development&Tanzania;&
ATIRA& (Ahmedabad& Textile& Industry’s& Research& Association).& It& has& received& the& European&
Commission&international&award&on&sustainable&development.&
&
2.!Our!experience!with!the!unit!up!till!now!
!
As& this& paper& is& written& in& June& 2009& the& Naiade& is& operational& in& 27& countries& including:&
Afghanistan,& India,& Pakistan,& Sri& Lanka,& Indonesia,& Brazil,& Uganda,& Surinam,& Mexico,&
Colombia,&Morocco,&Senegal,&Sudan,&Mozambique,&Uganda,&Ghana,&Cameroon,&Benin,&Mali,&
Egypt,& South& Africa,& Burkina& Faso,& Nigeria,& Zimbabwe,& Madagascar,& Tanzania,& Rwanda& & and&
Kenya.&&
&
So&far&the&Naiade&has&done&what&it&promises.&It&is&of&real&benefit&to&children&and&from&written&
feedback& from& users& in& Zimbabwe,& India,& and& Burkina& Faso& we& learn& of& the& great& and& fast&
impact& on& the& health& of& schoolchildren,& of& less& absenteeism& and& better& school& results.& The&
NGO& Gram& Vikas& situated& in& Orissa,& India,& reported& a& reduction& of& diarrhoea& of& 90%& in&
schoolchildren&following&the&installation&of&a&Naiada.&At&school&and&at&home,&the&importance&
of&a&steady&supply&of&clean,&healthy&water&24&hours&a&day&can&hardly&be&overestimated.&&
&
Up&till&now&the&installation&of&the&Naiade&has&been&without&any&complication&and&it&can&be&
installed& within& two& hours.& Of& all& the& units& installed& not& one& problem& with& the& filters& has&
occurred.&In&Afghanistan&the&Dutch&Military&Forces&started&supplying&the&local&people&with&4&
Naiade&units&which&they&located&in&small&medical&clinics.&&Last&October&the&American&Forces&
ordered&18&units&for&the&same&purpose.&
3.!Clean!Water!for!Children!Foundation!
&
This&is&a&way&of&getting&more&Naiades&into&schools.&Each&school&will&pay&a&monthly&sum&over&
10& years,& which& would& include& the& cost& of& the& unit,& transport& and& customs,& the& costs& of&
installation,& introduction,& regular& testing& by& a& laboratory,& maintenance& and& the& costs& of&
spare&parts.&The&foundation&will&remain&the&owner&of&the&units.&We&imagine&that&the&idea&of&
such&a&foundation&may&also&be&of&interest&in&some&of&the&regions&to&which&this&conference&
reaches& out,& with& the& local& Religious& Community& as& the& owner& of& the& Naiade& units,& hiring&
them&out&on&a&long&term&basis&to&schools.&&
81
Future!
&
Apart&from&the&quality&aspects&of&drinking&water&CWN&believes&a&separate&workshop&should&
address&the&quantity&aspects&of&providing&enough&water,&and&of&distributing&it&fairly.&CWN&
also&recognises&that&real&stewards&of&the&environment&also&look&after&the&interests&of&flora&
and&fauna,&to&make&sure&that&there&is&enough&water&available&for&all&life.&
&
&
Information!and!contact:!
www.cleanwaternow.nl&
http://www.cleanwaternow.nl/pdf/CWN_brochure_english.pdf&
Using!Naiade!solarYpowered!water!filter!in!schools!
&
&
Introduction!
!
Gram& Vikas& is& an& Indian& rural& development& NGO& working& predominantly& in& the& state& of&
Orissa.& One& of& the& principal& causes& of& poverty& in& Orissa& is& ill& health,& caused& primarily& by&
waterWborne& diseases,& due& to& having& to& drink& and& use& very& polluted,& unWprotected& water.&
Gram& Vikas& use& water& and& sanitation& activities& as& an& entry& point& for& whole& village&
development.&They&work&with&communities&to&enable&every&person&in&a&village&to&be&able&to&
access&good&quality&sanitation&facilities,&as&well&as&a&clean,&safe,&piped&water&supply.&
82
Photo:!Naiade!water!filters!
In& addition& to& water& and& sanitation& activities,& Gram& Vikas& have& established& four& residential&
schools&aimed&at&enabling&tribal&children&to&access&a&good&quality&education.&In&these&schools&
Naiade&solarWpowered&water&filters&have&been&installed&(photograph&1),&allowing&100%&of&the&
students&and&teachers&to&drink&safe,&clean&water.&&
&
The&filters&work&by&having&a&UV&light&attached&to&a&battery&that&disinfects&the&water.&A&solar&
panel,&which&for&security&reasons&is&placed&on&the&school&roof,&is&attached&to&each&battery,&
which&powers&the&light.&
These&filters&have&been&in&use&for&the&past&two&years,&and&are&working&extremely&well&with&
no&defects,&supplying&a&total&of&1047&students&and&46&staff&with&safe,&drinking&water.&Table&1&
shows&the&breakdown&for&each&school.&
Table 1: Schools were water filters are installed and number of people accessing clean
drinking water:
School
Number
of filters
Number of
beneficiaries
Thuamul Rampur
Kankia
Rudhapadar
Koinpur
Total
2
2
1
1
6
207
502
153
281
1143
!
Health!implications!of!the!water!filters!
!
83
To&ensure&all&of&the&children&and&staff&have&access&to&clean,&safe&water&24&hours&a&day,&there&
is& a& system& in& place& where& some& of& this& water& is& bottled& during& the& day& for& night& use.&
Ensuring&24Whour&access&to&safe&water&has&had&a&dramatic&impact&on&incidences&of&illness&in&
the&school,&with&the&number&of&cases&of&diarrhoea&and&dysentery&reducing&by&90%,&and&no&
cases&of&Typhoid&or&Jaundice&(Hepatitis&A).&All&of&the&students&and&staff&are&residential&and&do&
not&go&home&during&the&term&time,&therefore&it&is&very&easy&to&monitor&and&keep&accurate&
health&records&of&the&students.&
&
It&is&noticeable&that&when&the&students&do&go&home&to&villages&which&have&not&implemented&
Gram&Vikas’&water&and&sanitation&programme,&then&many&of&the&students&suffer&again&from&
common&problems&caused&by&waterWborne&diseases,&such&as&diarrhoea&and&dysentery.&&
!
Photo:!Hygiene!education!
&
&
&
Photo:!Spreading!the!hygiene!message!in!
local!villages!
In&addition&to&the&water&filters,&much&attention&is&paid&to&hygiene&and&sanitation&education&
(Photographs&3&&&4).&Students&are&taught&about&the&importance&of&washing&hands&with&soap&
before&eating&and&after&using&the&toilet.&Lessons&are&given&about&the&importance&of&keeping&
hair&clean,&as&well&as&cutting&nails&regularly.&&The&idea&behind&this&education&programme&is&
not&only&to&pass&important&health&and&hygiene&messages&onto&students,&but&it&is&also&hoped&
that& when& the& students& return& to& their& villages,& they& will& act& as& health& and& hygiene&
ambassadors,& encouraging& their& parents& to& also& follow& such& practices.& In& villages& where&
84
Gram&Vikas&are&working,&health&and&hygiene&education&is&carried&out&in&the&villages&too,&so&in&
these&cases&the&students&can&help&to&reinforce&the&message.&
&
The& water& filters& do& much& to& protect& the& children& from& worms& as& well,& but& to& further&
increase& this& protection,& twice& a& year,& all& children& in& the& residential& schools& are& given& deW
worming&tablets.&These&tablets&are&very&effective,&but&unfortunately&quite&costly.&
Maintenance!of!the!water!filters!
!
The&90%&reduction&in&common&waterborne&diseases&such&as&dysentery&and&diarrhoea&show&
how&important&these&water&filters&are&to&the&schools.&Another&benefit&of&the&water&filters&is&
that&they&require&only&a&very&limited&amount&of&technical&knowledge,&and&are&extremely&easy&
to&maintain.&
&
The& schools& have& to& carry& out& three& main& maintenance& tasks& to& keep& the& filters& in& good&
working&order:&&
&
1. The&container&needs&occasional&cleaning&
&
2. The&solar&panel&needs&cleaning&to&remove&the&build&up&of&dirt&and&dust&and&maintain&
the&efficiency&of&the&panel&
&
3. The&filter&bags&need&to&be&washed,&and&can&then&be&reWused&after&washing.&
&
The&only&maintenance&that&requires&a&trained&technician&is&the&replacement&of&the&UV&light,&
which&disinfects&the&water,&and&needs&to&be&replaced&around&every&14&months.&
The& main& problem& the& schools& have&
experienced& is& the& potential& theft& of& the&
solar&panels.&To&try&and&limit&the&possibility&
of&theft,&the&solar&panel&is&therefore&put&on&
the&school&roof&and&locked&away&at&night.&
&
&
Photo:!Students!of!Kankia!High!school!with!
their!waterYfilter!
85
24.!The!Importance!of!School!Water!Supply,!Sanitation!and!Hygiene!
(WASH)24!
UK!Department!for!International!Development!DFID.!Stephen!Young,!UK!
&
Introduction!
!
A&lack&of&water&supply&and&basic&sanitation&and&hygiene&(WASH)&kills&thousands&of&children&
and&vulnerable&people&every&day&and&leads&to&poor&health&and&malnutrition&for&many&more.&
10%& of& the& global& disease& burden& can& be& attributed& to& inadequate& access& to& WASH.& For&
example,&an&estimated&88%&of&diarrhoeal&disease&is&caused&by&unsafe&WASHi.&An&estimated&
2.5& billion& people,& representing& 38%& of& the& Worlds& population& lack& access& to& improved&
sanitation&facilities&while&1&billion&of&the&World’s&population&lack&access&to&safe&waterii.&This&
has& a& profound& effect& on& the& ability& to& meet& development& targets& such& as& the& Millennium&
Development& Goals& and& in& particular& in& ensuring& access& to& education& and& gender& equality&
and&empowerment&for&women.&
&
WASH!and!Education!
!
Education&is&vital&in&supporting&individuals&and&communities&to&escape&the&cycle&of&poverty&
and& ensure& sustainable& development.& Many& schools& in& developing& countries& have&
inadequate& WASH& facilities& or& serve& communities& which& have& a& lack& of& access& to& adequate&
WASH.&This&leads&to&poor&health,&absenteeism&from&school,&low&academic&performance,&and&
unequal&access&to&education&for&girls&and&those&who&are&particularly&vulnerable&such&as&the&
disabled.&Schools&often&lack&drinking&water,&hand&washing&or&sanitation&facilities&or&facilities&
are&of&inadequate&design&and&insufficient&in&quality&or&quantity.&&
&
Poor& health& as& a& result& of& helminth& (worms)& and& diarrhoea& caused& by& inadequate& WASH&
hinders& the& ability& of& children& to& participate& in& school& and& denies& them& their& right& to& basic&
education.& Sustained& exposure& to& water& related& health& hazards& such& as& chemical&
contamination& of& water& from& lead& and& arsenic,& diarrhoeal& disease& and& malaria& infections&
results&in&absence&from&school&and&in&the&case&of&arsenic&can&limit&cognitive&developmentiii.&
Poor& environmental& conditions& in& school& buildings& and& grounds& also& affect& the& ability& to&
teach&and&learn&effectively.&Girls&and&female&teachers&are&significantly&disadvantaged&if&there&
is& inadequate& provision& of& WASH,& particularly& when& they& are& menstruating.& Inadequate&
WASH& design& can& mean& a& lack& of& dignity& and& girls& and& women& at& risk& of& abuse.& This& may&
result&in&absence&from&school&or&dropping&out&from&schooling&altogether.&
&
Children& are& often& responsible& for& collection& of& household& water& requiring& them& to& walk&
considerable&distances&in&the&morning&and&evening.&While&the&average&distance&people&walk&
to&collect&water&in&Africa&and&Asia&is&6&km,&seasonal&shortages&and&inadequate&maintenance&
24
&This&note&has&been&prepared&by&Stephen&Young,&DFID&Senior&Water&and&Sanitation&Adviser&and&by&
Cara&Flowers&of&Harewell&International&on&behalf&of&the&DEW&Point&Resource&centre.&The&report&has&
drawn&on&inputs&from&a&range&of&DFID&advisory&colleagues&and&other&officers.&The&views&expressed&in&
the&paper,&however,&are&entirely&those&of&the&authors&and&are&not&presented&as&official&DFID&policy.&
86
of& infrastructure& can& mean& that& in& practice& children& walk& furtheriv.& This& can& prevent& them&
from& attending& school& and& limit& their& concentration& and& academic& performance& once& they&
are&there.&Poor&WASH&will&continue&to&affect&children&and&teachers&if&the&wider&community&
does& not& support& school& WASH& initiatives.& Yet,& school& WASH& can& act& as& a& springboard&
(alongside& other& initiatives)& in& support& of& community& WASH& initiatives.& It& is& clear& that& the&
provision& of& adequate& school& WASH& is& essential& for& access& to& sustainable,& equitable&
education&and&to&ensure&that&the&benefits&of&any&development&intervention&are&realised.&
&
The!cultural!and!religious!significance!of!WASH!
!
Water& has& great& cultural& and& religious& significance& and& this& is& often& reflected& in& rituals,&
stories&and&religious&beliefs.&For&example,&in&Japan&a&ritual&prayer&is&held&each&spring&at&the&
shrine&of&Takaokami,&the&god&who&brings&rainvi.&Many&religions&highlight&the&importance&of&
water&and&the&link&between&cleanliness&and&godliness&both&in&their&rituals&and&their&religious&
texts.&For&example,&
&
“Then%will%I%sprinkle%clean%water%upon%you,%and%ye%shall%be%clean”%
The&Bible,&Ezekiel&36:25.&
&
The&Qur’an&and&Hindu&texts&such&as&the&Bhagavad&Gita&also&make&this&connection,&
&
“God%loveth%the%clean”%
The&Qur’an,&Sura&9.&
&
“One%may%cleanse%himself%daily%by%taking%a%bath%in%water,%but%if%one%takes%a%bath%even%once%
in%the%sacred%Ganges%water%of%Bhagavad%Gita,%for%him%the%dirt%of%material%life%is%altogether%
vanquished."%%
GitaWmahatmya,&3.&
&
Many& religious& texts& describe& water& as& a& gift& from& god& emphasising& an& imperative& to& look&
after&water&resources.&This&is&often&reflected&in&the&belief&that&water&should&be&available&to&
everyone&and&not&bought&and&sold&as&a&commodityv.&Cultural&values&such&as&this&can&have&a&
significant&impact&upon&appropriate&strategies&for&WASH&development.&
&
3.1!
How!culture!and!religion!affect!WASH!
!
Religious& and& cultural& beliefs& also& shape& behaviour& in& relation& to& WASH.& For& example,& the&
Bunna&of&Ethiopia&believe&that&anything&from&the&ground&is&dirty&and&will&drink&contaminated&
surface& water& in& preference& to& uncontaminated& from& a& borehole& sourcevi.& Diseases& are&
perceived& to& be& caused& by& deceased& ancestors& and& not& contaminated& water.& This&
demonstrates& the& importance& of& ensuring& that& development& of& WASH& policy,& programmes&
and&infrastructure&takes&account&of&the&religious&and&cultural&context.&
&
Cultural&and&religious&beliefs&are&often&intrinsically&linked&and&both&impact&upon&water&use&
and& sanitation& and& hygiene& behaviour.& It& is& also& recognised& that& humans& have& an& innate&
sense& of& disgust& that& probably& has& its& roots& in& disease& avoidance.& We& tend& to& value&
cleanliness&and&avoid&things&considered&to&be&dirty&or&associated&with&dirt&and&this&is&often&
reflected& in& cultural& beliefs& and& practices.& These& beliefs& can& be& useful& in& shaping& positive&
sanitation&and&hygiene&behaviour&but&may&also&lead&to&embarrassment&and&avoidance&when&
discussing& some& aspects& of& hygiene& such& as& menstruation.& Cultural& taboos& surrounding&
contact& with& menstruating& women& and& a& belief& that& they& should& be& segregated& can&
87
accentuate&this.&It&is&therefore&important&to&recognise&not&only&environmental&sustainability&
but&also&the&cultural&suitability&of&WASH&practicesvi&(see&Box&1).&
Box!1!
The impact of cultural and religious preferences on community water supply (CWS):
vii
Case study from Machaki village in North West Frontier Province, Pakistan
Discussions with 20 village elders regarding sanitation and dirty washing water and urine in
the streets proved to be the starting point for development of a CWS programme in Machaki.
Open defecation was a common practice and thorough discussion on the health impacts led
them to conclude that they would like improvements. Nawab highlighted several cultural and
religious factors affecting technology choice and hygiene behaviour. These included:
- A desire to keep body and clothes clean for prayer as ordained by the Koran and hadiths
(Sayings from the prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him).
- Sayings from the Prophet Mohammad PBUH stating that toilets should face away from
Mecca.
- Strong psychological and religious concern regarding the impurity of faeces.
- The council of male elders who were responsible for village decision-making.
- Cultural taboos meaning women were unable to discuss sanitation with men yet women
were responsibility for household sanitation.
- A wastewater use decree from the Council of Leading Islamic Scholars (CLIS) in Saudi
Arabia.
As a result, the community designed a unique water supply system. This included a wetland
treatment system and household latrines demonstrating a flexible context specific community
designed response to CWS.
WASH!in!schools!
!
4.1!
Best!Practice!
!
Implementing& effective& and& sustainable& WASH& activities& in& schools& involves& attention& to&
physical& infrastructure& and& support& for& institutional& development& as& well& as& cultural& and&
religious& beliefs& which& affect& who& is& educated,& where& and& how.& The& following& areas&
represent&some&factors&for&consideration:&&
&
Gender$ equity$ and$ dignity.$ This& means& ensuring& that& gender& equity& is& considered&
throughout& WASH& design,& implementation& and& review.& For& example,& from& planning&
appropriate&locations&of&latrines&to&sustainable&provision&of&materials&to&aid&girls&and&women&
in&managing&their&menstruation.&&
$
Access$for$all.$Access&for&all&regardless&of&sex,&social&status,&age,&physical&and&mental&ability.&
This&may&mean&consideration&of&technical&designs,&training&and&sensitisation&within&schools&
and&awareness&raising.%
Institutional$capacity$and$cross3sector$communication.&Communication&within&and&between&
different&organisations&and&government&sectors&is&integral&to&success&of&WASH.&
$
Hygiene$ and$ sanitation$ education.& This& must& recognise& that& sanitation& and& hygiene&
behaviours& are& social& phenomenon& as& much& as& technical& challenges.& With& this& in& mind,&
cultural& and& religious& acceptability& and& appropriate& social& marketing& techniques& are&
important&considerations.&
&
Appropriate$physical$infrastructure.&This&includes&technology&choice,&location&and&operation&
and&maintenance&as&well&as&consideration&of&when&and&how&technology&is&introduced&with&a&
view&to&phased&incremental&improvements&in&WASH.&
&
88
Monitoring,$ evaluation$ and$ action.& A& monitoring& and& review& process& that& allows& for&
correction&in&the&system&and&continued&improvement.&
&
Sustainability.$ This& refers& to& the& environmental,& financial& and& operational& sustainability& of&
any&system.&This&means&consideration&of&whether&the&environment&can&support&the&system&
and& whether& people& are& able& to& finance& and& maintain& it.& Additional& to& this& might& be&
institutional& sustainability& meaning& attention& to& the& social& structures& required& to& ensure&
longWterm&functioning&of&WASH.$
&
These& measures& need& to& be& implemented& within& the& context& of& a& positive& policy&
environment& at& local,& national& and& regional& level& which& encourages& WASH& strategies& that&
pay&attention&to&cultural&and&religious&beliefs&and&promote&equity&of&access&for&all.&This&might&
be&demonstrated&through&setting&school&specific&standards&and&defining&steps&on&the&path&to&
WASH& supported& by& planning& and& assessment& of& needs& both& by& government& and& school&
communities.&Government&goals&cannot&be&achieved&without&local&support&and&involvement&
and& so& roles& and& responsibilities& of& government,& donors,& schools& and& communities& must&
clearly&be&defined&and&links&between&different&sectors&encouraged.&&
&
Gender!equity!and!dignity!
!
Gender& equity& is& a& question& of& dignity& and& rights.& Women& and& girls& have& the& right& to& safe,&
appropriate& water& and& sanitation& facilities& to& enable& them& to& practice& menstrual& hygiene.&
Lack&of&support&for&girls&to&manage&their&menstruation&is&linked&to&the&dramatic&decrease&in&
girls’&attendance&at&school&from&puberty&onwards&(see&Box&2).&Cultural&and&religious&values&
will&impact&upon&the&hygiene&behaviour&of&women&and&girls&and&affect&WASH&development.&
For& example,& girls& and& women& may& be& forbidden& from& discussing& their& needs& in& public& or&
with& men.& Women& and& girls& may& also& experience& segregation& and& seclusion& when&
menstruating&or&may&face&prohibitions&on&using&sanitation&facilities&which&are&in&public&view.&
However,& there& are& positive& lessons& to& learn& from& cultural& traditions& surrounding&
menstruation.&For&example,&Gumuz&women&in&Ethiopia&use&pounded&tree&bark&as&disposable&
sanitary&pads.&These&are&more&hygienic&than&cloth&strips,&environmentally&friendly&and&freeviii.&
Tackling& gender& equity& within& schools& must& involve& men& through& a& focus& on& encouraging&
male& teachers& to& educate& children& in& hygiene& and& sanitation& and& lead& by& example& in& safe&
water&and&sanitation&practices&even&if&these&practices&are&considered&to&be&women’s&work.&&
Box 2
Schoolgirls, health, wellbeing and dignity in Africa
It is estimated that half of all girls in Sub-Saharan Africa who drop out of primary education
do so because of poor water and sanitation facilities while it is estimated that a further 10%
of school-age girls in Africa do not attend school during menstruation or drop out completely
ix
at puberty because they have no access to clean, private sanitation facilities at school . In
2005 WaterAid conducted a study in Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State (BGRS), Ethiopia.
Of the 32 schools studied, latrine to student ratios ranged from 1 latrine per 46 students to 1
viii
for 386 . Where facilities were available, broken or non-existent toilet doors, a lack of
dedicated male and female toilets, and few female teachers hindered their use. Girls and
women teachers were often culturally limited to using toilets at night or felt there was
insufficient privacy to use available facilities.
89
Access!for!all!
!
Facilities& should& also& be& accessible& to& all& regardless& of& sex,& social& status& and& physical& or&
mental& ability.& This& means& attention& to& design& and& use& of& facilities.& For& example,&
consideration& of& the& proportions& of& facilities& to& ensure& they& are& comfortable,& not&
intimidating& and& easy& to& use.& Modifications& might& include& reducing& latrine& wall& height,&
making& the& latrine& drop& hole& smaller& to& tackle& phobias& related& to& falling& downx,& fitting&
handrails&or&ropes,&providing&‘tippy&taps’25& xiThe&location&of&facilities&must&also&take&account&
of& ease& of& physical& access& along& with& cultural& considerations& and& awareness& that& children&
may& be& vulnerable& to& bullying& or& abuse& if& the& location& and& monitoring& of& facilities& is&
inappropriate.& Other& adaptations& might& include& modifications& to& taps& to& make& them& easier&
to&use&for&those&with&missing&limbs.&Adaptations&such&as&this&are&generally&low&cost&but&make&
a&big&difference&in&ensuring&access&to&facilities&and&so&to&school&educationxii.&!
&
Institutional!capacity!and!crossYsector!communication!
!
Paying& attention& to& institutional& capacity& means& ensuring& that& there& is& a& positive& policy&
environment& that& enables& standards& setting& and& creation& of& guidelines& to& improve& WASH.&
This&involves&ensuring&that&appropriate&support&is&available&to&all&involved&in&ensuring&longW
term& sustainability& of& WASH& facilities& including& access& to& further& information& for& sanitation&
and&hygiene&promotion&as&well&as&support&for&maintenance&of&physical&infrastructure.&&
Schools&are&usually&the&responsibility&of&Ministries&of&Education&while&sanitation&and&hygiene&
policy& tends& to& sit& within& Health& Ministries& and& water& supply& often& in& a& third& separate&
Ministry.&Therefore,&coordination&between&different&sectors&and&ministries&within&a&country&
and&between&different&donor&agencies&is&vital&in&order&to&ensure&that&WASH&is&mainstreamed&
into&development&initiatives&and&efforts&are&coordinated.&&
&
Hygiene!and!sanitation!education!
!
While&infrastructure&such&as&toilets&and&taps&are&important,&it&is&equally&necessary&to&ensure&
that&behaviour&change&is&part&of&any&WASH&strategy.&Schools&have&a&responsibility&to&educate&
children& in& life& skills& under& which& sanitation& and& hygiene& fall.& There& is& recognition& that&
sanitation&and&hygiene&behaviour&are&largely&social&phenomenon&and&so&attention&to&social&
marketing& tools& and& practices& within& schools& is& importantxiii.& Children& can& be& powerful&
communicators& of& health& messages& in& support& of& good& hygiene& and& sanitation& practice& in&
their& communitiesxiv.& Key& to& ensuring& that& WASH& messages& are& communicated& accurately&
and&appropriately&is&ascertaining&school&and&staffing&and&training&requirements.&
&
Appropriate!physical!infrastructure!
!
Appropriate& physical& infrastructure& refers& to& technology& location,& choice,& operation& and&
maintenance& as& well& as& the& way& in& which& technology& is& introduced.& For& example,& where&
possible&latrines&should&be&made&from&locally&available&materials&facilitating&easy&repair&and&
replicabilityxv.&This&goes&hand&in&hand&with&monitoring&and&evaluation&as&continual&review&of&
facilities&should&lead&to&changes&in&physical&infrastructure&where&appropriate.&This&approach&
allows&for&phasing&technology&adoption&to&allow&for&incremental&improvements&as&demand&
25
&A&tippy&tap&is&a&small&suspended&jerryWcan&with&modified,&moulded&handles&that&provide&a&limited&
flow&of&water&when&tipped.&
90
increases&and&resources&become&available.&Physical&infrastructure&should&be&affordable&and&
easy& to& use& and& maintain.& This& is& especially& important& in& a& school& environment& where&
physical&structures&must&be&robust&and&able&to&support&rigorous&use&yet&easy&to&fix&without&
specialist&knowledge&in&the&event&that&they&break&down.&
&
Monitoring,!evaluation!and!action!
!
Monitoring& and& evaluation& is& the& longWterm& continual& assessment& and& review& of& WASH&
facilities&and&services&being&provided.&It&is&integral&to&ensuring&success&of&school&WASH&in&the&
long& term.& Monitoring& and& evaluation& of& school& WASH& ideally& involves& coordination& from&
school& to& national& level.& This& will& involve& support& in& establishing& school& health& committees&
and&a&monitoring&system&with&easy&to&observe&and&report&indicators.&&Ideally,&this&activity&will&
be& supported& by& the& local& environmental& health& department.& The& following& areas& are&
suggested& for& assessing& WASH& provision& in& schools:& institutional& capacity,& water& quality,&
water&quantity,&access&to&facilities,&Hygiene&promotion,&Toilets,&Disease&control,&Cleaning&and&
waste&disposal&and&Food&storage&and&preparationxvi.&Monitoring&and&evaluation&ideally&leads&
to&action&to&remedy&any&problems&when&they&occur.&
&
Sustainability!
!
Sustainability& refers& to& the& longWterm& success& of& the& WASH& project& in& achieving& its& targets.&
These& might& include& reduced& diarrhoea& incidence& and& improved& awareness& of& the&
importance& of& WASH.& Like& gender,& sustainability& cuts& across& all& aspects& of& water&
management& and& the& design,& operation& and& maintenance& of& facilities.& Sustainability& of&
WASH& is& especially& important& for& schools& as& the& longWterm& success& of& WASH& depends& on& a&
combination& of& physical& and& social& infrastructure& and& appropriate& institutions& and& support&
structures& to& ensure& continuity& in& provision& and& incremental& improvements& in& WASH&
standards.&&
&
DFID’s!experience!
!
The&UK&Department&for&International&Development&is&committed&to&supporting&the&provision&
of& WASH& in& schools.& This& is& in& the& context& of& enabling& attainment& of& the& Millennium&
Development&Goals&(MDGs).&MDG&2:&Access&to&universal&education&and&MDG&7,&target&10:&To&
reduce&by&half&the&proportion&of&people&without&access&to&safe&drinking&water&and&sanitation&
are&both&relevant&to&WASH&in&schools&(See&Box&3).&
&
It& will& not& be& possible& to& achieve& universal& education& without& equitable& access& for& all& to&
water&and&adequate&hygiene&and&sanitation.&DFID’s&2008&Water&Policy&Document&recognises&
this& and& includes& an& aim& to& “ensure% that% every% school% and% health% clinic% has% a% safe% water%
supply%and%well%maintained%toilets,%separate%for%boys%and%girls”xix.&DFID&also&recognises&that&it&
is& necessary& to& integrate& sanitation& in& health& and& education& programmes& in& support& of&
national&policies&on&WASH&in&schools.&This&approach&is&also&supported&by&DFID’s&2006&Girls&
Education&Strategy&within&which&DFID&made&a&commitment&to&make&sure&that&gender&equity&
and& support& for& promotion& of& clean& water& and& sanitation& facilities& are& part& of& education&
sector& plans.& DFID& recognises& that& the& introduction& of& WASH& in& schools& can& lead& to&
improvements& within& local& communities& while& local& community& support& is& integral& to&
ensuring&the&success&of&school&WASH&initiatives16.&
&
&
&
91
&
&
Box!3!
The!Millenium!Development!Goals!(MDGs):!WASH!and!Education!
In&2000&the&international&community&committed&to&the&millennium&development&goals&with&the&aim&
of& attaining& the& targets& contained& within& them& by& 2015.& They& focus& on& the& most& pressing& global&
development&challenges.&Two&key&goals&relate&to&WASH&and&education:&
MDG!2&is&to&achieve&universal&primary&education.&A&key&target&under&this&goal&is&for&all&girls&and&boys&
complete&a&full&course&of&primary&education.&
MDG! 7& is& to& ensure& environmental& sustainability.& MDG& 7,& target& 10& is& to& reduce& by& half& the&
xvii
proportion&of&people&without&sustainable&access&to&safe&drinking&water&and&basic&sanitation& .&
In& addition,& MDG! 3! is& to& promote& gender& equality& and& empower& women.& Two& key& areas& that& will&
enable& this& goal& to& be& attained& are& gender& sensitive& WASH& and& access& to& education.& DFID& is&
supporting& the& Global& Framework& for& Action& on& water& and& sanitation& which& seeks& to& build& political&
xviii
support&for&the&WASH&sector&and&to&improve&the&allocation&and&targeting&of&finance .&
Promoting!female!education!
!
In&Malawi&and&Nigeria,&DFID&supports&the&construction&of&separate&latrines&for&girls&and&boys&
in&schools.&In&India,&support&to&UNICEF’s&Child&Environment&Programme&has&resulted&in&the&
proportion& of& schools& with& minimum& School& Sanitation& and& Hygiene& Education& (SSHE)&
facilities& increasing& from& 41%& to& 73%& between& 2004& and& 2008/9.& Concurrently,& the&
proportion& of& households& adopting& essential& hygiene& practices& rose& from&26%& to& 45%& over&
the&same&period.&&Hygiene&education&has&now&become&a&critical&aspect&of&life&skills&education&
in&many&schools.&
!
Community!involvement!
!
DFID& has& been& involved& in& further& researching& Community& Led& Total& Sanitation& (CLTS),&
piloting&the&approach&in&Yemen&and&allocating&resources&to&researching&the&opportunities&for&
scaling&up&the&success&of&CLTS.&There&are&clear&benefits&of&community&involvement&in&WASH&
and& these& are& reflected& in& DFID’s& support& to& Yemen& (see& Box& 4).& Ensuring& that& school&
sanitation& is& linked& to& the& community& has& yielded& positive& results& in& Malawi& where& school&
sanitation& clubs& have& been& effective& in& maintaining& school& and& community& support& for&
WASH.&&
&
Box 4
xix
Yemen – Education benefits from improved water collection
Despite traditional rainwater harvesting practices, Al-Qatab village in Yemen suffered from
seasonal shortages of water with cisterns running out of water in the driest part of the year.
As a result, villagers had to travel 2 hours by foot to the nearest source. A new cistern, handpump, precipitation tank and livestock water basin was provided via the DFID funded Social
Fund for Development. This has made water collection easier. As this was the responsibility
of women and children, school enrolment has increased and hygiene and environmental
health has improved.
!
92
CrossYsectoral!links!
!
In& Kenya,& DFID& provided& support& in& developing& a& WASH& strategy& for& schools.& Provision& of&
adequate& water& and& sanitation& facilities& in& schools& is& now& a& key& strategy& in& the& DFID&
supported& Kenyan& Ministry& of& Education’s& Sector& Support& Programme.& As& part& of& a& sector&
wide& approach& (SWAP)& for& WASH,& a& pilot& involving& the& provision& of& sanitary& napkins& in&
schools&is&being&undertaken.&&
!
Faith!based!organisations!
In& many& parts& of& the& world,& faith& based& organisations& are& the& only& institutions& with& a&
consistent&presence.&Therefore,&they&are&often&well&placed&to&provide&continual&support&for&
WASH.& DFID& also& recognises& the& value& of& faithWbased& organisations& in& implementing& WASH&
activities&at&national&and&local&levels&in&country.&This&is&reflected&in&DFID’s&work&both&directly&
and&indirectly&with&many&faith&based&organisations&(See&Box&5).&
Box 5
DFID’s support for International Faith Based Organisations
DFID knows that Faith based organisations have a valuable and vital role to play in
supporting WASH initiatives in education. DFID has public partnership agreements with
several Faith based organisations including Islamic Relief, Christian Aid, World Vision and
CAFOD as well as other international non-governmental organisations such as WaterAid
who work closely with faith based groups in developing countries. Core funding to faith
based international organisations for 2008 to 2011 totals £67,280,000.
DFID!Funding!
DFID& partners& with& and& provides& funding& for& several& organisations& that& implement& WASH&
activities.& This& includes& partnering& with& UNICEF& the& World& Health& Organisation& (WHO)& and&
the& Water& Supply& and& Sanitation& Council& (WSSC).& In& Africa& alone,& DFID& has& committed& £1&
billion&to&the&water&sector&between&2009&and&2014&which&is&expected&to&result&in&water&and&
sanitation&provision&for&up&to&25&million&more&people.&In&addition&to&this&DFID&has&committed&
funds&for&WASH&provision&in&schools&to&activities&in&countries.&Examples&of&DFID’s&support&to&
country&WASH&in&education&initiatives:&
&
Burundi!–&From&2008&–&2011&DFID&has&committed&£6&million&to&improve&education&through&
support&to&the&National&Education&Plan.&More&than&200&latrines&have&been&rehabilitated&and&
there& are& plans& for& 75& new& schools& with& water& and& sanitation& facilities& including& separate&
toilets&for&boys&and&girls.&
&
Kenya! –& DFID& is& currently& contributing& to& the& water& sector& through& £55& million& committed&
from& 2005& –& 2010& to& provide& support& to& infrastructure& and& water& and& sanitation&
development& via& the& Kenya& Education& Support& Programme.& This& will& cover& over& 4,500&
primary& schools.& School& based& hygiene& promotion& will& form& the& basis& of& support& for&
maintenance&of&the&infrastructure&installed.&
&
Pakistan! –& In& Pakistan,& DFID& education& programmes& in& Punjab& and& Balochistan& involve&
significant&WASH&activities&including&improvements&to&school&infrastructure&and&a&particular&
focus&on&access&for&girls.&&
&
93
Malawi!–&£2.5&million&has&been&invested&by&DFID&in&school&water&and&sanitation&as&part&of&its&
funding&to&the&education&sector&over&the&last&three&years&resulting&in&sanitation&delivery&to&
400&schools.&
Nigeria!–&DFID&works&in&partnership&with&UNICEF&in&Nigeria.&This&joint&initiative&has&focused&
on& water& and& sanitation& in& schools& via& a& water& and& environmental& sanitation& programme&
which& provided& water& points,& sanitation& facilities& and& training& for& hygiene& skills& in& 400&
schools.&
&
DFID!country!involvement!
!
Kenya:!Universal!Education!and!WASH!demand!
!
The&introduction&of&Universal&Primary&Education&in&Kenya&resulted&in&a&39%&increase&in&the&
number&of&children&in&primary&schools&between&2002&and&2007xx.&This&has&strained&existing&
WASH&facilities&considerably&and&unavailable&or&poor&infrastructure&has&been&identified&as&a&
major& constraint& to& improving& education& accessxx.& DFID& is& working& with& the& Kenyan&
government& and& other& development& partners& in& Kenya& as& part& of& the& Education& Sector&
Support& Programme.& This& has& a& budget& of& £24& million& to& develop& primary& school&
infrastructure&including&sanitation&and&hygiene&promotion.&The&programme&aims&to&improve&
child&health,&attendance,&performance&and&retention&of&all&learners&including&girls,&boys&and&
those&with&special&needsxxi.&&
&
The&Kenyan&government&has&chosen&to&allocate&£6&million&for&WASH&promotion&alone.&This&
includes&a&variety&of&different&activities&from&latrine&design,&grants&for&schools&and&strategy&
development& to& teacher& training& on& the& subject.& The& Kenyan& Ministry& of& Education& WASH&
Promotion& Strategy& advocates& adoption& of& cultural& practices& that& enhance& positive& WASH&
behaviour& and& support& for& culturally& appropriate& facilities.& The& longWterm& sustainability& of&
this& initiative& is& being& strengthened& through& development& of& a& baseline& survey& by& the&
Ministry& to& ensure& that& the& needs& of& schools& are& being& met& and& to& identify& those& in& most&
need&of&support.&&
&
India:!WASH!in!support!of!school!attendance!
!
While&there&has&been&rapid&economic&growth&in&India,&400&million&people&still&live&in&absolute&
poverty.& The& Government& of& India& has& been& successful& in& reducing& the& number& of& children&
aged& 6W14& remaining& out& of& school& from& 25& million& in& 2003& to& 5& million& in& 2009.& However,&
there&is&still&further&to&go.&DFID&works&with&UNICEF&and&the&Indian&Government&to&improve&
access& to& education,& with& particular& emphasis& on& girls.& This& is& through& support& to& the&
Government’s& elementary& education& for& all& programme,& Sarva& Shiksha& Abhiyan& (SSA)& and&
expansion&of&the&Education&for&Women’s&Equality&programme,&Mahila&Samakhya.&Critical&to&
the&success&of&both&programmes&is&support&in&tackling&violence&against&women&and&barriers&
to&women&and&girls’&access&to&education.&Many&girls&experience&violence&at&school&or&must&
leave&school&early&if&there&are&no&WASH&facilities.&Support&for&WASH&in&schools&is&integral&to&
overcoming&these&challenges.&The&project&has&contributed&to&an&increase&in&provision&of&girls’&
latrine& facilities.& 28%& of& schools& in& India& had& separate& girls& latrines& in& 2003W2004.& This&
increased&to&37%&of&schools&in&2005W2006.&While&in&the&district&of&Andhra&Pradesh,&provision&
of& sanitary& napkins& and& disposal& facilities& has& been& shown& to& increase& school& attendance&
while&support&for&selfWhelp&groups&making&sanitary&napkins&has&proved&successful&in&enabling&
women&and&girls&to&manage&their&own&menstruation&in&an&affordable&sustainable&manner.&&
&
!
94
Nigeria:!Girls!education!!
!
In& 2004& 7& million& children& of& primary& school& age& were& not& attending& school.& Of& these& 4.3&
million&were&girls.&To&tackle&this&situation&the&Nigerian&Government&committed&to&improving&
girls&education.&In&response,&DFID&contributed&£25&million&to&a&joint&Government&of&Nigeria,&
DFID&and&UNICEF&partnership&Girls&Education&Project.&In&2007&this&involved&a&commitment&of&
1&billion&naira&for&borehole&and&latrine&construction.&Separate&toilets&for&boys&and&girls&along&
with& hygiene& education& also& formed& part& of& the& project.& As& a& result& of& the& project,& girls’&
primary&school&enrolment&in&Katsina,&Sokoto&and&Niger&states&has&risen&82%&from&24,001&in&
2004W2005&to&46,567&in&2007W2008xxii.&The&inclusion&of&WASH&in&the&project&has&been&critical&
to&achieving&this.&
&
Conclusions!
!
A&reliable&clean&water&supply&and&access&to&facilities&to&practice&sound&sanitation&and&hygiene&
are&essential&to&longWterm&poverty&reduction&underpinning&good&health,&food&security,&
economic&growth,&education&and&environmental&sustainability.&Education&is&vital&in&breaking&
the&cycle&of&poverty.&However,&without&adequate&WASH&that&pays&attention&to&equity&of&
access&and&environmental,&financial&and&operational&sustainability&access&to&education&and&
the&benefits&of&WASH&are&severely&compromised.&It&is&clear&that&critical&attention&needs&to&be&
given&to&water,&sanitation&and&hygiene&in&international&policy&and&local&action.&Schools&are&an&
ideal&place&in&which&to&promote&good&WASH&practice&and&to&introduce&measures&that&will&
enable&the&broader&benefits&of&WASH&and&education&to&be&realised&for&the&whole&
community.&
!
19.!Micro!solutions!have!macro!effects!
EMF.!Allerd!Stikker,!Ecological!Management!Foundation,!the!Netherlands!
!
&
In& 2000,& the& Millennium& Development& Goals& for& drinking& water& were& established& during& a&
ministerial& UN& conference& in& New& York.& In& 2002,& those& for& sanitation& water& were& added&
during& the& UN& conference& on& Development& and& Sustainability& in& Johannesburg,& ten& years&
after& the& first& conference& on& this& theme& was& held& in& Rio& de& Janeiro.& The& Millennium&
Development&Goal&for&water&is&to&halve&by&2015&the&number&of&people&in&the&world&without&
sustainable& access& to& safe& drinking& water& and& sanitation& in& 2000.& Taking& into& account& the&
ongoing& growth& of& the& world& population& –& around& seventyWfive& million& per& year& –& and&
predominantly&in&developing&countries,&this&means&that&in&those&fifteen&years,&of&which&nine&
have&now&already&passed,&an&additional&one&and&a&half&billion&people&should&have&access&to&
safe& drinking& water& and& an& additional& two& billion& access& to& sanitation& water& by& 2015,& as&
compared& to& 2000.& These& are& monumental& targets,& affecting& the& soWcalled& “bottom& of& the&
pyramid”.&
&
When& one& discusses& the& scarcity& of& clean& water& in& the& World& with& a& Westerner,& his& or& her&
response& is& often& one& of& disbelief.& To& many& people& in& our& society& the& problem& of& water&
scarcity& seems& complex& and& distant.& Most& of& us& don’t& even& know& what& they& pay& for& the&
95
water&they&use.&Do&you&realize&you&pay&four&hundred&times&as&much&for&a&bottle&still&water&as&
for&clean&tap&water?&Bottled&still&water&costs&US$&4&per&litre,&tap&water&less&than&a&U.S.&penny&
per&litre.&
&
In& September& 2005,& at& the& UN& meetings& in& New& York& on& Millennium& Development& Goal&
progress& reviews,& an& evaluation& of& the& results& on& water& so& far& at& the& time& did& not& look&
encouraging.&Global&statistics&on&drinking&water&in&the&developing&countries&appear&to&show&
progress,& mainly& resulting& from& actions& in& earlier& years,& while& sanitation& results& are& lagging&
behind.&An&important&observation&is&that&when&India&and&China&are&taken&out&of&the&statistics&
on&drinking&water,&the&other&regions&are&way&behind&target,&and&in&Africa&the&situation&has&
actually&deteriorated.&
What&is&the&reason&for&this?&
&
Firstly,& major& clean& water& scarcities& are& menacing& exactly& those& rural& and& periurban& areas&
where& a& large& portion& of& water/deprived& people& are& living.& They& are& part& of& the& bottom& of&
the& economic& pyramid.& They& are& not& reached& by& the& conventional,& centralized,& macro&
infrastructure&instruments&that&make&up&the&bulk&of&new&provisions.&
&
The& Asian& Development& Bank& made& this& very& clear& in& a& statement& in& December& 2005‫“ &׃‬the&
range& of& technology& and& management& choices& must& be& broadened& to& include& developing&
innovative,&lowWcost&technical&choices&that&can&be&implemented&by&poor&communities”.&
Secondly,& financing& the& necessary& investments& falls& dramatically& behind& expectations.& A&
commission&chaired&by&former&International&Monetary&Fund&(IMF)&managing&director&Michel&
Camdessus&estimates&in&the&report&“Financing&Water&for&All&in&2003”that&for&the&next&decade&
US$&75&billion&over&and&above&the&present&annual&investment&levels&will&be&needed&to&reach&
a&better&water&situation&in&the&world,&including&water&for&agriculture&and&industry.&But&water&
is& not& a& favoured& sector& in& the& international& community,& because& of& doubtful& local&
governance& and& political& pricing& policies,& to& name& a& few& reasons.& Actually& Camdessus&
summed&up&fourteen&critical&barriers&that&have&to&be&surmounted&to&achieve&the&necessary&
finance&target.&Good&governance&was&high&on&this&list.&
&
Thirdly,& as& the& still& expanding& population& in& developing& countries& need& to& be& fed& from&
irrigation&intensive&agriculture,&more&and&more&water&is&extracted&from&rivers&and&from&the&
ground,&leading&to&dirty&and&brackish&water&and&lower&water&tables.&
This&was,&by&the&way,&the&main&reason&for&the&downfall&of&the&Sumerian&civilisation&in&1500&
BC&in&Mesopotamia.&
&
In&developing&countries&between&80&and&95%&of&water&withdrawal&is&for&agriculture,&usually&
irrigated&in&a&very&inefficient&way.&For&China&it&is&87%&and&for&India&93%.&
&
Water& for& drinking& and& for& industries& in& and& around& urban& areas& are& and& will& increasingly&
being&treated,&recycled&and&reused,&but&rural&irrigation&will&remain&the&major&factor&in&water&
withdrawal.&
Therefore,& “more& crop& from& a& drop”& is& on& top& of& the& irrigation& agenda& of& the& international&
community.&
&
After& Emf& had& decided& in& 2004& to& start& looking& into& micro& water& solutions& in& developing&
countries,& it& was& surprisingly,& contacted& almost& simultaneously& and& independently& by& a&
number& of& Dutch& inventors.& It& appeared& that& new& innovative& and& affordable& smallWscale&
water& technologies,& windW& or& solarWpowered,& simply& designed,& and& able& to& turn& brackish&
96
groundwater& and& seawater& or& dirty& river& and& lake& water& into& safe& drinking& and& sanitation&
water&were&being&recently&developed&in&the&Netherlands.&
&
The&technologies&were&in&different&stages&of&maturity&but&not&far&from&the&point&of&market&
entry& and& all& were& in& need& of& extra& finance& for& the& next& steps,& including& demonstration&
pilots.& The& techniques& were& all& fitting& very& well& within& the& concept& of& the& micro& water&
solutions&for&developing&countries.&
&
In& the& Workshop& in& Salisbury& practical& examples& of& social& and& technical& innovations& will&
demonstrate& how& families,& communities& and& schools& can& today& derive& clean& sustainable&
water&supply&from&river&water,&groundwater,&rainwater&and&in&the&future&from&seawater.&
&
The& micro& approach& also& opens& up& opportunities& for& private& investors,& Micro& Finance&
Institutes&(MFI)&and&individuals&and&other&social&and&faith&institutes&to&participate&in&smart,&
smallWscale&water&projects&in&developing&countries.&
As&many&micro&solutions&have&a&macro&effect,&they&can&make&a&substantial&difference.
23.!Water!supply,!sanitation!and!hygiene!facilities!and!related!education!in!
faithYbased!schools!
IRC.!Annemarieke!Mooijman!and!Christine!Sijbesma,!International!Water!
and!Sanitation!Centre,!The!Netherlands!
&
Introduction!
!
The& holy& city& of& Varanasi& in& India& is& known& for& its& ghats,& the& sites& where& the& River& Ganges&
purifies&the&bodies&of&the&live&bathers&and&the&ashes&of&the&cremated&dead.&Close&to&them&is&
the& huge& square& mouth& of& the& city& sewerage& system,& which& disgorges& its& load& of& blackwater&
into& the& river,& irrespective& of& its& religious& functions.& This& combination& of& spiritual& purity& and&
environmental& reality& is& not& unique& to& India.& In& many& countries& the& water& sources& used& for&
religious& functions& are& at& the& same& time& contaminated& by& people’s& wastes.& Environmental&
challenges&taken&up&by&the&faiths&are&widespread:&water&is&a&source&of&inspiration,&a&challenge&
and& a& threat& in& indigenous& beliefs,& Baha’i,& Buddhism,& Christianity,& Hinduism,& Islam,& Judaism&
and&Taoism26.&&
&
Spiritual&linkages&between&faiths&and&waste&are&less&evident.&Where&found,&connotations&are&
largely& negative.& Waste& is& associated& with& impurity;& because& it& causes& bad& smells& and&
pollution& and& attracts& vermin,& many& religions& prescribe& the& avoidance& of& physical& contact&
with&wastes&for&cleanliness&and&spiritual&reasons.&Brahmins,&e.g.,&must&defecate&beyond&the&
distance&of&an&arrow&shot&from&their&home,&and&never&in&a&temple&enclosure,&at&the&borders&
of&a&river,&pond&or&spring,&or&in&a&public&place.&During&the&act,&Muslims&cannot&face&towards&
26
&Lida&Scheldwald&&&Linda&Reijerkerk,&Water:&a&way&of&life.&Sustainable&water&management&in&a&cultural&context.&London:&Taylor&
&&Francis,&2009&&
97
Mecca&and&Hindus&must&not&face&celestial&bodies,&a&temple,&priest&or&holy&tree27.&Most&faiths&
also&have&waste&cleaning&rituals&before&religious&functions&or&do&not&allow&such&functions&in&
an& unclean& state.& At& the& same& time,& many& cultures& have& valued& and& used& dry& human& and&
animal&waste&as&fuel&and&wet&waste&as&manure.&&
&
&
Understanding&of&how&uses&of&water&and&waste&can&transmit&disease&is&much&more&recent.&
Only&in&1854&Dr.&John&Snow&found&out&that&one&pump&was&the&common&link&in&the&deaths&of&
500& people& in& ten& days,& because& of& pollution& by& the& excreta& of& patients& who& used& nearby&
soakpit& latrines28.& & Table& 1& explains& how& different& diseases& are& spread& from& one& patient& to&
another&through&water&and&waste.&&
&
Table&1:&Transmission&of&infectious&disease&via&water&and&waste&
&
Type&of&disease&
Transmission&mechanism&
Diseases&transmitted&
WaterWborne&
WaterWwashed&
(waterWscarce)&
Drinking&contaminated&water&
Lack&of&washing&with&water&and&soap/soap&
substitute&&
WaterWbased&
Transmitted&via&hosts&(shellfish,&snails)&that&
live&in&water&
Transmitted&by&flies&or&mosquitoes&that&
breed&in&water&
Via&the&6Fs:&Fluids&(water),&Flies,&Fingers,&
Food&and&Fields&(fertilized&with&raw&
manure)&
Transmitted&in&human&excreta&(often&
included&in&the&waste)&and&via&flies,&
mosquitoes,&rats,&dogs&
Cholera,&Diarrhoeas,&Dysentery,&(Para)Typhoid,&&
Cholera,&Diarrhoeas,&Dysentery,&(Para)Typhoid,&Eye&infections&
(Conjunctivitis,&Trachoma),&Skin&infections&(Ringworm,&Scabies,&
Yaws),&LouseWborn&infections,&Plague&(via&fleas),&Acute&
Respiratory&Infections&
Guinea&worm&(or&Dracunculiasis),&Schistosomiasis&(or&Bilharzia)&
WaterWrelated&
vectors&
Waste&(Human&
faeces&and&faeces&of&
pigs,&chicken)&
Solid&Waste&
(Refuse)&
Dengue,&Malaria,&Filariasis&(or&Elephantiasis),&Yellow&fever,&
River&Blindness&(or&Onchocerciasis),&Sleeping&Sickness&&
Cholera,&Diarrhoeas,&Dysentery,&(Para)Typhoid,&Roundworm,&
Whipworm,&Pinworm,&Beef&and&pork&tapeworm,&Hookworm&
Cholera,&Diarrhoeas,&Dysentery,&(Para)&Typhoid,&Worm&
Infections,&Dengue,&Yellow&Fever,&Plague,&Rabies,&Scabies,&
Upper&Respiratory&Tract&&Infections&
&
Of& all& cases& of& environmental& disease,& half& are& diarrhoeas& and& acute& respiratory& infections&
(ARI).&They&are&also&the&most&common&causes&of&death&of&children&under&the&age&of&five&and&
can&be&prevented&at&low&costs.&
&
Building$and$maintaining$water$supply$and$sanitation$facilities$in$schools$$
&
Linking&faith&with&construction&of&water&facilities&and&toilets&in&schools&does&not&sound&like&an&
obvious& link,& yet& it& is& important.& Water& plays& a& central& role& in& many& religions& and& beliefs&
around& the& world:& source& of& life,& it& represents& (re)birth.& Water& cleans& the& body,& and& by&
extension& purifies& it,& and& these& two& main& qualities& confer& a& highly& symbolic& (even& sacred)&
status&to&water.&Water&is&therefore&a&key&element&in&ceremonies&and&religious&rites29.&This&is&
reflected&in&the&way&people&use&water,&in&the&way&they&design&water&systems&and&the&need&
for&accessibility&of&water&for&cleansing&after&toilet&use&or&washing&hands.&
&
Water& provision& for& drinking& water,& hand& washing,& flushing& and& cleaning,& school& meal&
preparation,&etc.&and&the&provision&of&clean&toilets&and&urinals&in&schools&are&needed&to&keep&
children&healthy.&Anybody&who&has&children&in&school&knows&that&schools&are&places&where&
children& get& infected.& & Spreading& of& diseases& can& happen& very& quickly& in& schools.& They& are&
places&where&many&children&gather&together&for&many&hours&a&day&in&often&cramped&spaces&
with&limited&ventilation,&bad&hygienic&conditions,&no&hand&wash&facilities&with&soap,&toilets&in&
27
&Reginald&Reynolds,&Cleanliness&and&Godliness.&Garden&City:&Doubleday,&1946.&
28
&Maggie&Black&&&Ben&Fawcett.!The&Last&Taboo:&Opening&the&Door&on&the&Global&Sanitation&Crisis.&London:%Earthscan,&2008.&
29
&Quoted&from:&http://www.worldwaterday.org/page/442&&
98
bad& repair& etc..& A& study& in& Colombia& showed& that& there& is& a& direct& link& between& diarrhoea&
and&hygiene30&in&schools:&more&than&40%&of&the&cases&in&schoolchildren&could&be&attributed&
to&transmission&in&school&rather&than&at&home.&&
&
In& addition& to& being& important& for& the& children’s& health,& toilets& and& particularly& hygienic&
toilets& are& important& learning& tools& for& children.& Teachers& can& use& them& to& teach& children&
about&hygienic&behaviour&and&sanitation&as&well&as&about&the&importance&of&using&toilets&and&
avoidance& of& discrimination& in& their& cleaning.& If& the& example& that& children& experience& at&
school&(often&the&only&example&of&a&toilet&they&see)&is&not&a&good&experience&(=&dirty,&smelly&
toilets),& it& will& be& difficult& to& motivate& them& to& promote& toilets& in& their& own& homes& and&
community&or&to&construct&toilets&when&they&are&grownWups&themselves.&
&
Still& too& often& technical& design& choices& for& schools& (and& other& places)& are& based& on& the&
available& financial& resources,& physical& condition& and& socio/economic& circumstances,& etc.&
Although&this&is&understandable&from&a&programmatic&point&of&view,&there&are&several&design&
factors&that&go&beyond&those&technical&considerations&and&which&are&extremely&important&to&
for& the& acceptance% and% sustainability& of& the& facilities31.& & Those& factors& are& discussed& in& the&
text&below!32.&
&
1. Facilities!should!encourage!hygienic!behaviour!
!
If&hygienic&behaviour&is&too&difficult&to&apply,&it&will&be&difficult&to&motivate&children&to&follow&
all& the& steps& needed& W& they& will& tend& to& skip& some& and& thus& take& potential& health& risks.&
Therefore,&facilities&must&be&close&to&the&schools,&have&sufficient&capacity,&be&simple&to&use,&
provide&for&hand&washing&and&anal&cleansing,&and&water&and&soap&should&be&available&at&all&
times.&&
&
2. Facilities!are!designed!with!involvement!of!the!users&
&
Active& involvement& of& the& users& is& essential& in& all& phases& of& the& design& process.& In& most&
countries&standardised&designs!are&used&for&facilities&in&schools&to&reduce&costs&and&control&
quality.& For& example& the& Government& of& India& recently& published& a& book& with& standard&
designs& for& public& schools33,& but& no& standards& for& religious& schools& have& been& developed.&
Using&standards&can&be&a&good&solution,&but&applying&a&standard&design&too&rigidly&can&lead&
to&ignoring&specific&local&preWconditions&and&needs.&&
&
In&general,&when&properly&coached&and&guided,&teachers&and&children&are&perfectly&able&to&
assess& their& existing& practices& and& find& solutions& for& their& own& needs.& & Their& involvement&
during& the& design& stage& of& hygiene,& sanitation& and& water& facilities& will& lead& to& better&
solutions&and&increased&acceptance&of&these&solutions.&
&
3. Appropriate!dimensions!and!adjustments!for!children!
!
30
31
&Koopman,&J.&S.&(1978)&Diarrhea%and%school%toilet%hygiene%In%Call,%Colombia.%Am%J%Epiderniol107:412W420.
&Facilities&refer&to&infrasructure&for&water&provision,&handwashing&as&well&as&toilets&and&urinals&
Zomerplaag,&J.&and&A.&Mooijman&(2005)&ChildHFriendly%Hygiene%and%Sanitation%Facilities%at%Schools,%&IRC&International&Water&and&
Sanitation&Centre&in&cooperation&with&UNICEF,&available&at&http://www.irc.nl/page/9587&
32
&Facility&refers&to&facilities&for&water&provision,&handwashing&as&well&as&toilets&and&urinals&
33
DDWS,&DEEL&and&UNICEF&(2008),&“An%inclusive%approach%for%School%Sanitation%&%Hygiene%Education.%Strategy,%Norms%&%
Designs”,&UNICEF,&New&Delhi,&India
99
Adapting& designs& for& children& is& about& making& facilities& accessible& and& comfortable& for&
children.& Children& are& smaller& and& are& not& as& strong& as& adults.& For& the& youngest& children,&
facilities&and&adaptations&should&be&made&to&allow&for&adults&to&supervise&and/or&help&when&
children&use&the&toilets,&hand&wash&facilities&or&water&points.&Although&it&sounds&obvious,&this&
also&has&to&be&reflected&in&the&designs.&
&
In&larger&schools,&it&is&recommended&to&build&separate&facilities&for&the&younger&children,&the&
older&children,&separated&for&girls&and&boys&(particularly&important&for&adolescent&children&in&
all& schools)& and& female& and& male& teachers.& In& small& schools,& when& the& same& facilities& are&
used& by& different& age& groups,& special& provisions& can& be& made& to& allow& smaller& children& to&
make&use&of&the&facilities,&such&as&a&step&in&front&of&the&seat&or&an&additional&seat&cover&with&
a&smaller&hole.&
&
4. Enough!capacity!and!minimal!waiting!time!!
!
For& water& use& in& schools,& SPHERE34& applies& a& ratio& of& 3& litres/student/day& for& drinking& and&
hand& washing.& When& there& are& not& enough& toilets,& taps& and& waste& bins& for& the& number& of&
school& children,& then& children& inevitably& search& for& other& places& to& urinate& and& defecate,&
‘forget’& to& wash& their& hands,& throw& garbage& on& the& ground& or& drink& water& from& unsafe&
sources.&Ensuring&the&right&capacity&in&facilities&is&usually&not&a&matter&of&applying&a&simple&
ratio.&Literature&and&country&standards&use&a&ratio&of&1&toilet&for&20W40&children.&&There&are&
some&other&factors&that&determine&the&required&capacity&besides&the&total&number&of&school&
children,&such&as&the&times&when&children&are&allowed&to&go&to&the&toilet/drink&water/&wash&
hands,&number&of&classes&and&the&future&growth&of&the&school&population.&&Arguments&that&
applying&this&ratio&is&too&costly&can&be&partly&compensated&by&the&construction&of&less&costly&
urinals&instead&of&latrines&for&both&girls&and&boys.&A&study&from&UNICEF&Bangladesh&revealed&
that& only& about& 6W10%& of& the& children& who& visit& a& school& toilet& go& there& for& defecation.&
Therefore,&for&90%&of&the&toilet&visits,&a&urinal&serves&the&needs.&&
&
5. Needs!and!roles!of!girls!
!
Increasingly,&evidence&is&available&that&the&absence&of&toilets&or&of&separate&toilets&in&schools&
for&girls&is&an&important&reason&for&parents&not&to&send&girls&to&school35.&If&adolescent&girls36&&
attend& schools& during& their& menstruation,& the& availability& of& girlsWappropriate& toilets& and&
water& supply& is& essential& to& comfortably& change& and& (often)& dispose& of& sanitary& pads& and&
wash& themselves& in& privacy.& If& not& available,& adolescent& girls& may& be& unable& to& remain&
comfortably& in& class.& Although& so& far& scientific& evidence& is& limited,& the& lack& of& sanitary&
protection&during&menstruation&is&often&mentioned&by&the&girls&as&a&barrier&to&their&regular&
attendance&in&school.&In&reality&this&might&also&be&motivated&by&religious&and&cultural&beliefs&
and&habits.&&
34
&http://www.sphereproject.org/&The&Sphere&Project&was&launched&in&1997&by&a&group&of&humanitarian&NGOs&and&the&Red&
Cross&and&Red&Crescent&movement.&&Sphere&is&based&on&two&core&beliefs:&first,&that&all&possible&steps&should&be&taken&to&
alleviate&human&suffering&arising&out&of&calamity&and&conflict,&and&second,&that&those&affected&by&disaster&have&a&right&to&life&
with&dignity&and&therefore&a&right&to&assistance.&
35
&Another&School&Barrier&for&African&Girls:&No&Toilet&By&Sharon&LaFraniere&The&New&York&Times,&Friday&23&December&2005&
http://www.truthout.org/issues_05/122305WA.shtml;&Lack&of&Sanitaries&Force&Girls&Out&of&School&.&New&Vision&(Kampala),&
January&6,&2004,&http://allafrica.com/stories/200401060305.html;&Not&only&girls'&toilets,&but&clean&and&safe&girls'&toilets&in&Notes&
and&News&No.&3,&2001,&www.irc.nl;&Afghanistan:&Girls'&school&attendance&doubles&in&two&years,&by&Mary&Kate&MacIsaac&W&
Communications&Manager,&Afghanistan,&World&Vision,&May&17,&2006;&Benson,&Carol,&Girls,&Educational&Equity&and&Mother&
TongueWbased&Teaching,&United&Nations&Educational,&Scientific&and&Cultural&Organization,&Bangkok,&2005.&
36
&This&text&has&been&adapted&from:&Kirk,&J.&and&Sommer,&M&(2006),&“Menstruation%and%body%awareness:%linking%girls%’health%with%
girls’%education”&Gender&and&Health&Special.&Royal&Tropical&Institute&(KIT),&Amsterdam,&Netherlands%&&&
100
This&situation&means&that&for&many&girls&and&young&women&it&is&preferable&to&stay&at&home&
during& menstruation& and& not& attend& school& at& all.& At& home& they& do& not& have& to& worry& as&
much& about& sanitary& protection,& nor& about& having& adequately& concealing& clothing.& Regular&
absence&from&school&for&several&days&a&month&(10W20%&of&all&school&days)&can,&even&in&the&
short& term,& have& a& negative& impact& on& a& girl’s& learning& and& therefore& on& her& academic&
performance&in&school.&&Frequent&absence&will&lead&to&insufficient&learning&for&most&girls&and&
therefore& poor& results& in& the& long& term.& Eventually& this& can& even& lead& to& dropping& out&
completely.&!
&
The&location&of&facilities&is&important.&Girls&and&women&will&not&use&toilets&or&collect&water&
from&locations&that&are&situated&in&an&“unsafe”&location&because&of&the&risk&of&harassment&by&
older&students,&teachers&or&others&or&because&of&religious&or&cultural&beliefs&and&restrictions&
that&people&should&not&be&seen&when&visiting&a&toilet.&&
&
6. Special!needs!of!children!with!disabilities!
!
About&one&in&five&of&the&world's&poorest&people&is&disabled.&Exclusion&from&basic&facilities&can&
result&in&isolation,&poor&health,&and&even&poverty.&The&lack&of&proper&school&toilets&can&deter&
disabled&children&from&even&entering&school.&Only&rarely,&adaptations&for&disabled&people&are&
incorporated&into&the&design&of&school&facilities,&although,&in&general,&it&demands&little&or&no&
additional&expense.&&Adaptations&should&be&made&for&the&following&three&main&categories&of&
disabled&children,&who&have&the&potential&to&enter&regular&primary&schools:&&
&
• Blind&children&and&children&with&poor&vision:&special&grips&and&guiding&systems&as&well&as&
proper&lighting&for&the&poorWsighted.&&
• Children& in& wheelchairs& or& with& crutches:& provision& of& ramps,& wider& doors,& and& special&
grips&or&foldable&seats.&&
• Children&with&missing&or&paralyzed&arm(s):&lids,&taps,&and&knobs&that&can&be&opened&with&
one&hand&or&operated&with&the&feet&and&are&not&too&heavy.&&
Faith&representatives&can&play&an&important&role&in&getting&this&group&of&children&to&school.&
!
7. Stimulate!children’s!learning!and!development,!and!ensure!that!educational!tools!are!
designed!in!an!ageYappropriate!way&
&
Younger& children& do& not& possess& the& same& ability& to& learn& complex& concepts& as& older&
children,& and& they& learn& differently.& This& is& also& important& for& the& design& of& facilities& in&
schools.&Learning&and&development&can&best&be&stimulated&interactively&by&learning,&showing&
and& doing.& Particularly,& facilities& can& provide& the& opportunity& for& this& interaction& and& are& a&
potential& extension& of& the& learning& environment& and& make& it& a& powerful& tool& to& develop&
appropriate&hygiene&habits.&
&
&
101
Children&are&stimulated&by&their&surroundings&in&various&ways.&Besides&visual&perception,&this&
also& occurs& through& sharing& spaces& with& others,& being& responsible& for& keeping& them& clean,&
etc.& The& different& means& of& stimulation& can& be& categorized& into& the& following& types& of&
development.&
&
• Environmental! development:% Children& receive& information& from& the& environment& by&
seeing,&smelling,&hearing&and&touching&and&they&use&this&information&in&their&intellectual&
development.& Spaces& they& encounter,& including& water,& sanitation& and& hand& wash&
facilities,& can& provide& a& range& of& positive& and& negative& experiences& related& to& colours,&
smells,&shapes&and&sounds.&
&
• Social! development:% The& layout& of& spaces& and& the& way& they& are& used& can& encourage&
contact&with&others&or&offer&seclusion.&This&is&relevant&for&toilets,&because&they&require&
both&privacy&and&sharing&with&others.&
•
Creative! development:& Children’s& creativity& can& be& stimulated& by& giving& them& the&
opportunity& to& make& the& spaces& their& own& and& letting& them& adapt& them& to& better& suit&
their&needs.&Children&can&decorate&walls&or&solve&functional&problems&themselves,&which&
will&encourage&creative&thinking.&
•
Physiological! development:& The& use& of& facilities& can& help& to& develop& necessary& motor&
skills& in& young& children,& such& as& fineWtuning& of& the& physical& movements.& Using& the&
facilities& requires& large& motor& skills& (climbing& stairs,& etc.)& as& well& as& fine& ones& (opening&
taps,&etc.).&
&
8.
Appropriate!locations!for!toilets!and!water!supply!
!
Even& a& wellWdesigned& facility& has& the& risk& of& not& being& used,& if& is& located& in& a& poorly&
considered& place.& Finding& the& right& location& for& facilities& requires& looking& at& and&
consultations& about& different& practical,& environmental& and& cultural& aspects.& & The& children&
have&to&feel&secure,&need&some&privacy&and&it&should&be&possible&to&supervise&the&younger&
children.& Furthermore,& facilities& must& be& located& away& from& potential& flood& areas& and&
contamination&of&drinking&water&sources&avoided.!
!
9.
LowYcost!solutions!without!compromising!quality!
!
Best&are&those&facilities&that&are&affordable,&durable,&encourage&proper&use,&and&are&easy&to&
maintain&and&keep&clean.&For&example:&proper&drains&for&excess&water&at&wells,&surfaces&that&
come& into& contact& with& faeces& or& urine& must& be& impermeable& and& easy& to& clean& etc.&
Investing& in& good& quality,& sustainable& facilities& means& investing& in& overall& public& health.&
Moreover,& despite& higher& initial& investment& costs,& money& will& be& saved& in& the& long& run,&
because& the& facilities& have& a& longer& lifespan& and& require& less& maintenance.& On& the& other&
hand,&this&does&not&mean&that&the&most&expensive&options&are&best.&It&is&always&a&matter&of&
finding&the&right&balance&between&costs&and&quality.&&
!
10. Prevent!harm!to!the!environment!!
!
Children& are& best& sensitised& to& environmental& issues& in& the& school& setting& where& they& are&
learning& about& various& issues& related& to& daily& living.& It& is& important& to& reduce& or& prevent&
negative&impacts&on&the&environment,&which&pose&hazards&to&public&health&at&the&same&time.&
102
Some& facilities& may& contaminate& soil& and& groundwater,& while& others& may& produce&
wastewater&flows&that&must&be&managed.&Environmental&sustainability&should&be&an&integral&
part&of&the&design,&implementation,&operation&and&maintenance&of&facilities,&as&well&as&the&
accompanying& hygiene& education& program.& The& challenge& is& to& promote& awareness& on&
environmental&issues,&while&providing&incentives&and&tools&to&address&them.&&
&
11. Operation!and!maintenance!plans!!
!
A& wellWdesigned& facility& will& lose& its& purpose& if& it& is& not& properly& looked& after.& A& good&
operation& and& maintenance& plan& and& implementation& will& not& only& indicate& who& is&
responsible& for& cleaning,& and& maintenance& but& also& the& costs& involved.& It& will& also& ensure&
that:&&
&
• It&involves&children,&teachers,&parents&and&the&local&committee&in&the&continuous&process&
of&monitoring&and&improving&hygiene&practices&at&school;&
• It&is&developed&and&agreed&upon&before&the&facilities&are&completed;&
• It& is& nonWdiscriminatory& and& protects& the& best& interest& of& children& at& all& times:& child&
participation&should&never&be&child&labour!&&And&girls&and&boys&should&participate&equally&
in&cleaning&and&maintenance.&
&
12. Have!financial!means!to!keep!the!facility!clean!and!in!good!shape&
&
For& the& development& of& longWterm,& sustainable& and& largeWscale& programmes,& financial&
planning&and&management&is&crucial.&Over&recent&years,&most&schools&programmes&in&South&
Asia& have& been& moving& away& from& smallWscale,& fully& subsidised& programmes& and& have&
entered&into&a&phase&where&programmes&have&to&be&transformed&into&financially&sustainable&
ones.& So& far,& many& programmes& have& had& difficulties& in& making& the& transition,& due& to&
capacity& problems& and& the& lack& of& financial& planning& and& management.& & This& can& be&
overcome& by& addressing& financial& sustainability& from& the& planning& and& startWup& phase& on.&
Clear&financial&policies&can&help&to&underpin&a&more&efficient,&equitable&and&sustainable&use&
of& resources& through& the& promotion& of& cost% recovery% (e.g.& a& contribution& to& be& paid& by&
parents)& and& financing& by& religious& institutions% (if& it& is& a& religious& school)& or& government&
partners&(for&public&schools).&&
$
Integrating$water,$sanitation,$hygiene$and$the$environment$in$school$education$$
&
Good& education& in& school& about& water,& sanitation& and& hygiene& is& as& important& as& good&
sanitary& facilities:& both& components& go& handWinWhand.& In& 2002,& UNICEF,& the& United& Nations&
Children’s&Programme&was&cooperating&with&over&50&countries&to&achieve&integrated&WASHE&
(water,&sanitation,&health,&hygiene&and&environment)&programmes&in&schools,&an&increase&of&
43%& in& six& years37.& Nine& years& of& cooperation& between& UNICEF& and& IRC& have& resulted& in& a&
number& of& lessons& on& effective& education& programmes& on& water& supply,& sanitation& and&
hygiene,&especially&in&primary&schools.&These&have&been&summarised&below.&
&
1. Adjust!education!to!the!childYdevelopment!cycle!
!
Children& have& different& needs& and& potentials& for& learning& at& different& ages.& Young% children%
aged% 2H4% enjoy& learning& new& skills,& playing& with& and& handling& objects.& They& like& activities&
37
&Every&child&clean&through&school&hygiene.&Background&paper&of&an&EWconference&on&school&sanitation&and&hygiene&education,&
UNICEF&and&IRC,&2002.&&
103
such& as& telling& stories& and& singing,& which& develop& their& language& skills,& and& miming& and&
acting&as&adults,&who&are&their&ultimate&role&models.&At&this&age&they&can&learn&how&to&use&
the&toilet&and&wash&their&hands&and&take&some&responsibilities&for&hygiene.&The&teacher&can&
also& start& playful& activities& to& ‘clean’& the& facilities& or& refill& the& water& reservoir& of& a& hand&
washing& facility.& These& are,& however,& learning& activities& rather& than& participation& activities.&
Squatting&sideways&over&a&squatting&toilet&enables&young&children&to&hold&on&to&a&handrail,&
which&makes&toilet&use&less&challenging&for&them.&&
%
Children% aged% 5H8% are& imaginative.& They& discover& the& world& and& their& own& capabilities& in& a&
playful& way.& In& the& meantime,& they& gain& selfWconfidence& and& make& the& first& steps& towards&
independence.& They& experience& the& positive& effects& of& personal& care& for& their& appearance&
and& value& this& in& a& simple& way:& looking& and& smelling& good& means& to& feel& good.& In& this& age&
group,& children& can& start& to& be& actively& involved& in& making& and& implementing& simple& plans&
for&good&hygiene,&but&they&cannot&yet&take&full&responsibility.&Physical&games&and&activities&
are& important& to& use& pentWup& energy.& Sweeping& the& classroom,& filling& soap& or& water&
containers,&putting&different&types&of&solid&wastes&in&separate&boxes&and&bins,&etc.&must&still&
be&closely&guided&by&adults,&including&for&safety&reasons.&&
&
The%age%group%of%9H12&years%old&can&work&well&together&with&others&and&discuss&experiences&
and& practices& with& friends.& They& become& aware& of& the& consequences& of& poor& hygiene&
practices& and& begin& to& see& relationships& between& theory& and& practice,& although& abstract&
concepts&are&still&difficult.&They&like&watching&and&taking&part&in&practical&demonstrations&and&
are& very& helpful.& They& also& like& to& be& given& particular& responsibilities.& At& this& age,& children&
also&learn&that&different&means&or&practices&can&lead&to&the&same&overall&result&and&are&open&
to&comparing&solutions.&&
&
Girls& and& boys& can& now& be& involved& as& groups& in& activities& to& plan,& maintain& and& manage&
good&hygiene&and&sanitation,&do&home&assignments,&such&as&simple&structured&observations&
for&arithmetic&and&hygiene&lessons,&and&do&outreach&activities&with&younger&siblings&at&home.&
Knowledge&on&physical&development&and&building&of&selfWconfidence&and&respect&helps&early&
maturing&girls&and&boys.&They&are&also&helped&by&there&being&a&trusted&sameWsex&teacher&to&
whom& they& can& go& for& questions& and& with& problems.& Girls& who& start& to& menstruate& need&
access&to&sanitary&napkins.&In&some&programmes,&they&learn&how&to&make&these&themselves.&&
&
Twelve% to% fifteen% year% olds% begin& to& develop% social& and& analytical& skills& for& exploring& their&
position& in& the& community.& They& can& question& gender& and& socioWeconomic& differences& and&
are& aware& of& their& own& development& and& growth& and& develop& a& desire& for& genderWrelated&
privacy.&They&start&to&understand&abstract&concepts&around&hygiene,&environment&and&social&
relations.&Respectful&learning&about&personal&female&and&male&hygiene&becomes&important,&
to&begin&with&in&sameWsex&groups&and&using&indirect&methods&such&as&stories&and&drawings&to&
facilitate& discussion.& PreWadolescents& like& to& have& tasks& and& be& trusted& to& carry& them& out.&
They& begin& to& take& their& own& responsibilities& and& develop& a& sense& of& social& justice.& At& this&
age,& girls& and& boys& can& be& actively& involved& in& the& planning,& construction,& operation& and&
maintenance&of&facilities.&They&can&form&their&own&school&health&clubs,&enjoy&outreach&work&
in& the& community& and& can& learn& to& use& waste& productively& through& practising& segregation&
and&recycling&in&school&and&at&home.38&
&
2.
Use!participatory!learning!methods!
38
&More&details&in&Postma,&Leonie;&Getkate,&Renate&and&van&WijkWSijbesma&Christine&(2004).&Life&SkillsWBasedHygiene&Education:&
A&guidance&document&on&concepts,&development&and&experiences&with&life&skillsWbased&hygiene&education&in&school&sanitation&
and&hygiene&educationprogrammes.&Delft,&The&Netherlands,&IRC&International&Water&and&Sanitation&Centre.&(Technical&Paper&
Series;&no.&42).&http://www.irc.nl/content/download/11504/168690/file/life_skills.pdf&
104
!
Most& teachers& in& primary& and& secondary& school& have& been& trained& in& traditional& teaching&
approaches,&in&which&there&is&very&little&room&for&active&participation&by&the&students&other&
than& answering& questions.& While& class& instruction& has& its& place,& children& greatly& enjoy& and&
benefit&from&more&participatory&learning&methods.&&These&methods&involve&children&actively&
in&the&learning&process&and&allow&them&to&learn&from&what&they&do&themselves&and&from&the&
other&children.&There&are&many&participatory&methods&W&some&are&listed&in&Table&2.&&
&
Table&2&&&Examples&of&participatory&methods&in&schools39&&
&
Participatory&methods&for&ages&4W7&
Participatory&methods&for&ages&8W12&
Listening&to&and&telling&stories&
Reciting&poems&and&songs&and&singing&songs&
Drama/short&skits&
Seeing&and&doing&various&types&of&puppet&plays&
Simple&sorting&games&
Language&and&number&games&and&assignments&
Reading&and&reacting&to&stories&
Walks,&doing&simple&observations&
Skills&demonstrations,&with&peer&observation&and&analysis&
Movement&games,&competitions&
Conversations&and&discussions&
Drawing,&painting,&colouring,&claying&
Doing&simple&tasks&
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•&Reading&and&analysing&stories&
•&Reciting&poems,&making&and&singing&songs&
•&Doing&quizzes&
•&Conversations&and&discussions&
•&Drama,&role&plays,&pantomime&and&dancing&
•&Drawing&and&painting&
•&Making&various&types&of&models&
•&Writing&compositions&and&creative&writing&
•&Brainstorming&
•&Excursions&
•&Skills&demonstrations&
•&Peer&observations&and&analysis&
•&Language&and&mathematics&games&&
•&All&kinds&of&competitions!
&
&
3.
No!need!to!use!costly!equipment!and!material!
!
Contrary&to&what&is&often&thought,&participatory&education&in&water,&sanitation,&hygiene&and&
the& environment& does& not& require& special& investments,& such& as& a& toolkit& with& specially&
designed& and& printed& material.& For& many& activities,& teachers& can& use& what& is& already&
available:&blackboard,&chalk,&paper,&pencils,&water,&sand,&pebbles,&etc.&&
&
Fig.&1&&Well&model&with&types&of&water&use&and&types&of&pollution&
&
39
&
&
&As&above.&The&book&also&contains&a&description&of&many&participatory&learning&methods.&
&
105
Fig.&1,&for&example,&shows&a&small&model&of&a&dug&well&made&by&students&in&Vietnam.&On&slips&
of&paper,&the&children&first&wrote&each&purpose&for&which&the&well&water&was&used&(ways&in&
which&water&goes&out)&and&then&on&a&second&set&of&slips&in&which&ways&people&contaminated&
this& water& (types& of& pollution& going& in).& The& teachers& used& this& activity& in& environmental&
education&with&older&children&and&also&with&the&parents&on&parents’&day.&&
&
In& another& game,& children& from& a& tribal& region& in& North& Vietnam& sorted& pencil& drawings& of&
different& utensils& for& storing& and& drawing& drinking& water& from& the& least& to& the& most& risky.&
Under&each&drawing&they&placed&slips&with&the&names&of&the&utensils&in&their&tribal&language&
and& other& slips& with& the& names& in& Vietnamese.& The& teachers& later& reused& the& papers& for& a&
competition& by& timing& the& speed& with& which& the& children& could& lay& out& the& mixedWup&
drawings&and&slips&in&the&correct&position.&&
&
Learning& can& be& combined& with& physical& activity.& In& a& lesson& in& a& dry& part& of& Sri& Lanka,& the&
teacher& let& two& lines& of& 8W10& year& old& children& race& against& each& other& to& two& buckets& of&
water,&where&two&children&would&stand&ready&to&pour&water&over&their&hands,&give&them&a&
small&piece&of&soap&to&wash&their&hands&and&then&pour&more&water&to&rinse&off&the&soap&(Fig.&
2).&The&race&stopped&as&soon&as&the&groups&had&used&up&their&water.&Besides&the&expected&
winners& on& speed,& the& teacher& announced& as& the& real& winners& the& group& that& had& taken&
more& time& for& hand& washing& and& the& group& with& the& most& hand& washers:& they& won& the&
prices&for&the&best&hygiene&and&the&most&economic&use&of&the&water.&&
&
&
&
Fig.&2&&&Race&on&water&use&for&hand&washing,&Karukapone&primary&school,&Sri&Lanka&
&
&
4. Integrate!WASHE!education!in!the!curriculum!!
!
Irrespective&of&the&value&of&education&on&health&and&environment,&good&exam&results&are&the&
prime& objective& of& the& teachers,& children& and& parents.& Including& WASHE& topics& into& the&
school&curriculum&and&exam&therefore&makes&all&the&difference.&Integration&is&possible&under&
different&subjects,&e.g.&under&science,&social&studies&and/or&civic&education&(Zambia).&
!
5. Practice!multiYpurpose!learning!!
!
Another&way&to&make&it&easier&for&teachers&and&students&to&address&water,&sanitation,&health&
and&the&environment&(WASHE)&as&part&of&school&education&is&to&combine&this&learning&with&
practising& basic& education& skills& such& as& reading,& writing,& arithmetic& and& geography.& The&
above& examples& from& Vietnam& linked& WASHE& with& writing,& reading& and& language& skills.&
Through& simple& home& surveys,& e.g.& on& what& sources& are& used& for& drinking& water,& how& the&
106
water&is&stored&and&drawn,&and&if&the&family&has&a&toilet,&a&bathing&place&and&soap,&students&
have& gathered& WASHE& statistics& and& used& them& in& class& to& practise& counting,& adding,&
subtracting& and& percentage& calculating& skills& as& well& as& discussing& health& risks& and& ways& to&
measurably& improve& home& conditions.& Children& have& also& learned& to& drawn& community&
maps,&in&which&they&noted&water&sources,&open&defecation&areas&and&houses&with&sanitary&
and&no,&or&unsanitary&toilets.&
!
6. Link!with!broader!values!and!skills!!
!
Besides&scholastic&knowledge,&attitudes&and&skills,&children&learn&many&other&skills&from&their&
activities&and&interactions&in&school,&which&when&developed&well&will&serve&them&during&their&
whole& lives.& The& life& skills& approach& (Table& 3)& uses& learning& methods& that& consciously&
promote& these& more& generic& skills& for& their& current& and& future& lives.& A& related& approach& is&
ValueWBased&Education,&developed&by&the&African&Institute&of&Sathya&Sai&Education&in&Ndola,&
Zambia.& As& shown& by& its& name,& the& approach& bases& water& education& on& five& basic& human&
values&and&related&sub&values:&Truth&(with&e.g.&discrimination&between&true&and&false,&good&
and&bad,&respect&for&all&religions&and&secularism),&Love&(with&sincerity,&tolerance,&friendship,&
kindness& to& animals),& Peace% (with& freedom& from& jealousy,& greed,& pride,& selfWdiscipline,& selfW
control& and& selfWrespect,& power& of& concentration,& silence),& Right% Conduct% (with& e.g.&
cleanliness,&service&to&others,&leadership,&conservation&of&nature&and&the&environment)&and&
NonHViolence,%with&among&other&things,&democratic&decision&making,&sense&of&social&justice,&
kindness,&courtesy&and&concern&for&others40.&
&
Table&3&&&&&&&&&&Five&categories&of&generic&skills&developed&through&life&skills&education&
&
InterYpersonal!
Skills!
W&Empathy&building&&
W&Active&listening&&&&
W&Giving&&&receiving&&&
&&feedback&
W&Non/Verbal&&&&
&&communication&&&&
W&Assertion&&&
&&&refusal&skills&&&
W&Negotiation&&&&&&&&
&&conflict&&&&
&&management&
W&Cooperation&&&&&&&
&&&teamwork&&&&
W&Relationship&&&&&&&
&&community&&&&
&&building&skills&
Skills!for!Building!
SelfY!!!Awareness!
W&SelfW&&&&
&&&assessment&&
&&&skills&
W&&Identifying&&&&
&&&personal&&&
&&&strengths&&&&&
&&&weaknesses&
W&Positive&&&
&&&thinking&skills&
W&Skills&for&&&&
&&&building&&&&
&&&self&image&and&&&&&
&&&body&image&
Values!Analysis!&!
Clarification!Skills!
W&Skills&to&understand&&&
different&social&norms,&
beliefs,&myths,&ethics,&
culture,&gender,&diversity,&
poverty&
W&Skills&for&identifying&&
&&&what&is&important,&&
&&&influences&on&values&&
&&&&&attitudes,&and&&
&&&aligning&values,&&
&&&attitudes,&behaviour&
W&Skills&for&recognizing&&&&&
&&&&&&acting&on&&
&&&discrimination&and&&
&&&stereotypes&
W&Identifying&&&acting&&
&&&on&rights,&&
&&&responsibilities&&&&&&&&&
&&&social&justice&
DecisionYMaking!Skills!
W&Critical&&&creative&&&&&
&&&thinking&skills&
W&Problem&
&&&solving&skills&
W&&Analytical&skills&&&&&&
W&&Skills&for&&&&
&&&&generating&&&&
&&&&alternatives&
W&&Information&&
&&&&gathering&skills&
W&&Skills&for&&
&&&&evaluating&&
&&&&information&
&&&&e.g.&the&media&
W&&Skills&for&&&
&&&&assessing&&&&
&&&&risks&&&&
&&&&consequences&
W&&Goal&setting&&
&&&&skills&
Coping!&!Stress!
Management!Skills!
W&Self&control&skills&
W&Coping&with&&&
&&&(peer)&pressure&
W&&Time&management&&
&&&&skills&
W&&Dealing&with&&
&&&emotions:&grief,&&
&&&anxiety&
W&&Dealing&with&&
&&&&difficult&&
&&&&&situations&
&&&&(conflict…also&&
&&&&loss,&abuse&&&&&
&&&&trauma,)&
W&&&Help&seeking&&
&&&&&skills&
&
Source:&UNICEF&Workshop&on&Life&Skills&Education,&New&York,&2000.&
&
7.
Practice!learning!in!school!
!
It&is&still&quite&common&that&children&learn&about&water,&sanitation&and&hygiene&in&school,&yet&
cannot& apply& their& learning& in& school,& because& they& lack& the& fundamental& facilities,& or& they&
are& not& functioning,& are& so& dirty& that& they& cannot& be& used,& or& have& turned& into& health&
40
&Victor&Kanu,&Water&Education:&A&Human&Values&Approach,&in&UN&Habitat,&Water&Education&in&African&Cities,&Report&of&an&
Expert&Group&Meeting.&Johannesburg,&Soth&Africa,&30&AprilW2&May,&2001,&pp.&20W33.&
107
hazards.& A& good& WASHE& programme& obviously& combines& good& facilities,& education& and&
practices.&
&
8. Recognise!and!prevent/stop!misuse!
!
Quite& recently,& more& information& has& also& become& available& on& the& negative& effects& that&
poor& design& and& supervision& of& school& water& and& sanitation& facilities& and& a& lack& of&
communication& and& trust& between& teachers& and& students& can& have& for& vulnerable& groups.&
Children& can& be& quite& cruel,& and& distant& toilets& are& typical& places& where& a& group& of& boyW
bullies&or&a&girl&‘queen’&and&her&followers&tease&children&that&are&younger,&weaker&or&picked&
on&for&other&reasons.&Toilets&are&also&typical&locations&for&wrong&student&conduct&W&smoking,&
drinking,& sexual& behaviour& –& and& group& initiation.& Colleagues& in& one& workshop& on& WASHE&
also&told&about&cases&of&misuse&of&power&by&teachers,&such&as&sexual&abuse&of&girls&who&have&
to&bring&water&to&the&house&of&male&teachers&living&at&schools&without&water&supply.&
!
9. Monitor!and!evaluate!conditions,!practices!and!progress!
!
WASHE& facilities& and& education& approaches& can& be& simply& evaluated& and& monitored& for&
progress.& Presence,& functionality,& hygiene& and& (non/partial)& use& of& supply& of& (drinking)&
water,&toilets&and&hand&washing&facilities&with&soap&are&easy&to&observe.&For&the&evaluation&
of&the&education&approach,&the&joint&school&WASHE&programme&of&the&Government&of&India&
and&UNICEF&used&a&participatory&scoring&system&of&five&scales&of&20&marks&each,&with&at&the&
lowest& (0)& level& no& hygiene& education& at& all,& while& at& the& highest& level& (100)& hygiene&
education& was& integrated& in& the& curriculum,& used& participatory& learning& methods& and&
materials,& and& teachers& involved& children& in& monitoring& and& upkeep& of& school& sanitation&
facilities41&
&
10. Reach!out!to!homes!and!communities!
!
Last,&but&not&least,&WASHE&programmes&offer&good&opportunities&for&twoWway&cooperation&
between& the& schools,& parents,& the& religious& community,& local& businesses& and& local&
institutions,&such&as&councils&and&water/health&committees&with&homes&and&community.&
&
Parents& and& communities& frequently& support& local& schools& in& improving& their& WASHE&
facilities& and& school& children& bring& information& home& and& encourage& improvements& at&
home.& The& childWtoWchild& programme& promotes& improvements& especially& through&
communication& between& children,& e.g.& reaching& out& to& younger& brothers& and& sisters.& In&
programmes&in&Nepal&and&Pakistan,&schoolteachers&successfully&promoted&that&parents&built&
lowWcost&toilets&and&used&them&with&all&family&members.42&
&
41
&Jeremy&Colin&et&al.,&UNICEFWGovernment&of&India&Child’s&Environment&Programme&1999W2003.&Annexes&to&Part&One:&
Evaluation&Report,&Loughborough&University&and&IRC,&June&2004.&&
42
&See&Chapters&9&and&14&in&J&Wicken,&J,&&Verhagen,&J,&&Sijbesma,&C,&Da&Silva,&C&and&Ryan&P&(eds)&2008.&Beyond&construction:&Use&
by&all,&A&collection&of&case&studies&from&sanitation&and&hygiene&promotion&practitioners&in&
South&Asia.&London,&UK,&WaterAid;&Delft,&the&Netherlands,&IRC&and&Geneva,&Switzerland,&WSSCC.&http://www.irc.nl/page/40450&
108
!
Pilot!Approach!to!Sustainable!Development&
Sheet$from$presentation$on$Child3friendly$Wash$facilities$by$Eng.$Suranga$De$Silva,$UNICEF$
Sri$Lanka$
&&
Conclusion!
&
Good& sanitation& and& hygiene& habits& and& the& protection& of& the& environment& are& values&
common&to&all&Faiths.&So&are&many&of&the&values&developed&in&the&life&skills&and&valueWbased&
education& approaches.& With& globally& about& 64%& of& schools& being& faithWrelated,& there& are&
unique& opportunities& and& benefits& from& linking& spiritual& learning& with& learning& on& water,&
sanitation,& hygiene& and& the& environment,& and& the& improvement& of& water& and& sanitation&
facilities& in& schools.& Materials& on& designs,& strategies,& approaches& and& results& are& widely&
available43;& what& remains& is& their& adjustment& and& use& in& faithWbased& education& and& the&
development&of&school&water,&sanitation&and&hygiene&education&programmes&as&part&of&the&
education&systems&of&individual&faiths.!
&
21.!Micro!Water!Facility
MWF.!Frederick!Claasen,!the!Netherlands!
&
&
43
&The&most&complete&resource&site&is&the&IRCWUNICEF&website&http://www.schools.watsan.net/&Here&you&find&key&publications&
and&links&to&other&websites.&More&can&be&found&on&the&IRC&web&site&http://www.irc.nl/sshe.&The&World&Bank,&WSP,&UNICEF&
toolkit&on&hygiene,&sanitation&and&water&in&schools&for&inWdepth&information&on&setting&up&activities&in&
schools&www.schoolsanitation.org.&Some&key&publications&are&(1)&Towards&Effective&Programming&for&WASH&in&Schools:&A&
manual&on&scaling&up&programmes&for&water,&sanitation&and&hygiene&in&schools&http://www.irc.nl/page/37479.&on&school&
hygiene&education&http://www.irc.nl/page/26444&and&on&childWfriendly&WASH&facilities&http://www.irc.nl/page/9587&&
&
109
Micro% Water% Facility% supports% innovative,% smallHscale% technologies% for% improving% access% to%
clean%drinking%water%and%proper%sanitation%in%developing%countries.%Micro%Water%Facility%is%a%
unique% broker% between% parties% that% want% to% contribute% towards% realising% the% Millennium%
Development%Goals.&
&
Private&initiatives&can&play&a&key&role&in&increasing&access&to&safe&drinking&water&and&proper&
sanitation.& It& is& becoming& increasingly& clear& that& Southern& countries& offer& a& potentially&
interesting&market&as&well,&also&referred&to&as&the&‘bottom&of&the&pyramid’&(BOP).&However,&
placing&products&on&these&markets&has&proved&to&be&difficult,&usually&because&this&requires&a&
fundamentally& different& approach& to& product& development,& sales& and& distribution,& pricing,&
service&and&maintenance.&To&be&successful,&products&must&be&fully&purposeWbuilt/adapted&to&
local&needs&and&conditions.&In&other&words,&they&must&be&‘appropriate&technologies’.&&
&
It&is&not&easy&to&meet&these&requirements&and&translate&them&into&convincing&plans.&Potential&
financiers&and&project&partners&tend&to&be&reluctant&to&make&funds&available&for&working&up&
ideas& and& developing& prototypes,& carrying& out& pilot& projects& and& training& local& partners.&
Micro& Water& Facility& advises& project& organisations& on& the& appropriate& strategy& to& be&
followed&and&acts&as&an&intermediary&in&finding&the&right&partners.&
&
Micro& Water& Facility& is& honoured& to& attend& the& workshop.& We& strongly& believe& solid& local&
partnerships& with& trusted& organizations& that& really& understand& local& market& conditions& and&
the& needs& of& local& people& make& a& difference& between& a& good& and& a& weak& solution& to& the&
world& wide& water& and& sanitation& stress.& Religions& have& close& and& tight& networks& within&
communities&at&grass&root&level&and&are&often&seen&as&a&trusted&partner.&These&networks&can&
play&an&important&role&in&reaching&the&poor&physically&(distribution),&making&them&aware&of&
the&importance&of&safe&drinking&water&and&proper&sanitation&(creation&of&effective&demand)&
and&educate&poor&people&to&take&care&of&their&own&(capacity&building).&
&
The& contribution& of& Micro& Water& Facility& is& to& share& experience& about& project& and& revenue&
models& that& really& work& at& the& bottom& of& the& pyramid.& Micro& Water& Facility& would& like& to&
stress&the&importance&of&a&‘social&business&wise&approach’.&Questions&like&“How&do&we&create&
effective& demand?’& and& ‘How& do& we& ensure& water& and& sanitation& services& are& financially&
sustainable?’&are&topics&of&interest&for&Micro&Water&Facility.&
&
At&the&end&of&the&workshops&Micro&Water&Facility&hopes&to&have&enlarged&its&network&and&
perhaps&has&found&several&partners&that&are&willing&to&join&a&consortium&to&set&up&a&business&
or& a& project.& On& the& other& hand,& more& on& a& strategic& level,& Micro& Water& Facility& hopes& to&
convince&participants&about&the&starting&point&that&water&and&sanitation&projects&should&be&
financially&sustainable&in&the&first&place.&
&
Topics!of!interest!and!expertise:&
&
Innovative%school%projects:%
&
Together& with& Clean& Water& Now& (CWN),& a& Dutch& based& social& venture,& MWF& developed& a&
innovative& model& to& increase& access& of& safe& drinking& water& to& schoolchildren.& CWN& raised&
the& Clean& Water& for& Children& Foundation& (CWCF).& CWCF& wants& to& provide& clean& and& safe&
drinking& water& to& schoolchildren& in& India.& CWCF& will& provide& appropriate& and& high& quality&
solutions& and& products& fitting& the& local& situation& and& meeting& demands& of& its& clients.& The&
Naiade&will&be&the&first&product&in&the&CWCF&water&product&portfolio.&CWCF&will&combine&the&
sales&of&products&with&smart&financial&constructions&(like&leasing,&grants&or&micro&finance)&to&
110
lower&the&barriers&of&the&initial&purchase&costs.&CWCF&believes&clients&should&be&willing&and&
able& to& pay& for& its& products& and& services& whether& or& not& supported& by& grants& or& crossW
subsidised& by& cash& creating& activities.& This& way& CWCF& will& become& financially& sustainable,&
becoming&less&dependent&on&grants.&
&
Akvo,%innovative%financial%distribution%models:%
&
MWF& supported& Akvo& in& setting& up& a& solid& organization& and& attracting& funds& to& finance&
Akvo’s& activities.& The& Akvo& Foundation& creates& and& shares& internet& tools& designed& to&
contribute& to& poverty& reduction& through& supporting& water& and& sanitation& sector& projects.&
Akvo&does&three&things;&helps&others&to&share&their&knowledge,&matches&small&(around&EUR&
5.000,W& till& EUR& 10.000,W)& funds& to& projects,& and& simplifies& reporting& and& feedback.&
Organizations&that&need&money&for&smallWscale&water&and&sanitation&projects&showcase&their&
projects&on&the&Akvo&website,&where&it&is&visible&for&the&entire&world&to&see.&Organizations,&
companies& and& individuals& who& like& the& project& can& then& provide& funds.& Akvo& collects& the&
funds& and& sends& them& to& the& project& organization.& In& this& way,& an& individual& project& can&
attract&funding&from&many&different&sources.&&
&
Micro%Finance,%investigating%new%methods%to%finance%WASH%projects:%
%
Microcredit& is& arguably& the& bestWknown& exponent& of& microfinance.& True& to& its& name,&
microcredit& entails& giving& small& loans& to& poor& and& lowWincome& clients,& who& otherwise& lack&
collateral&or&credit&history&to&qualify&for&loans&to&help&generate&income.&
!
Institutions& that& provide& microcredit& range& from& communityWbased& loan& organizations& to&
NGOs&and,&more&recently,&to&international&banks&and&other&financial&institutions.&Microcredit&
is& often& provided& through& ‘cash& flow& based& lending’& in& which& the& client& and& loan& officer&
analyze& the& expected& income& flow& and& calculate& the& loan& size& and& terms& the& client& can&
afford.& Microcredit& loan& interest& rates& and& repayment& terms& vary,& yet& are& generally& set& to&
ensure&credit&facility&sustainability,&ideally&avoiding&subsidized&credit.&
&
Micro&Finance&has&not&been&used&widely&as&a&tool&to&finance&WASH&projects.&This&is&due&to&
the& difficulty& to& link& income& generating& activities& directly& to& improved& access& to& water& and&
sanitation.& MWF& stimulates& discussion& and& research& in& this& field& aiming& to& build& a& solid&
financial& business& case& to& MF& organizations& that& will& hopefully& convince& them& to& open& up&
funds&for&WASH&projects.&&
&
&
&
!
22.!Smart!Techs:!new!options!to!improve!WASH!in!schools!
SMART!TECHS.!Henk!Holtslag!and!Walter!Mgina,!Tanzania!
&
&
What!is!the!Issue?!!
%
In%Tanzania%around%70%%%of%the%primary%schools%in%rural%areas%do%not%have%adequate%WASH%
(Water% Sanitation% Hygiene)% facilities.% Old% pumps% and% water% tanks% are% often% no% longer%
111
working% because% nobody% can% carry% out% maintenance.% For% instance% some% 50%% of% the% hand%
piston%pumps%are%not%working.%Other%developing%countries%face%similar%problems.%%
%
A% key% issue% is% the% limited% funds% available,% mixed% with% the% high% cost% of% installing% and%
maintaining% water% and% sanitation% equipment.% At% Smart% Techs,% we% came% to% the% belief% that%
new%ideas%were%needed%to%improve%this%situation.%And%through%innovative%thinking,%the%cost%
of%a%number%of%water%and%sanitation%options%have%been%cut%by%half%–%and%at%the%same%time%
have%made%the%technology%more%effective%and%easier%to%maintain%than%conventional%options.%%
%
Some%of%the%key%areas%in%which%Smart%Techs%have%been%most%effective%are%manual%borehole%
drilling,% water% filters,% hand% pumps% (EMAS% and% Rope% pumps)% Ecosan% latrines% and% hand%
washing%options%such%as%Tippy%Taps.%
&
What!Are!Smart!Techs?!!
!
Smart& Techs& are& innovative& low& cost& technologies& that& can& be& managed& by& their& users,&
because& they& are& simple,& affordable& and& available.& Smart& Techs& are& generally& produced&
and/or&sold&by&the&local&private&sector&meaning&that&spare&parts&are&available&resulting&in&a&
“profitYbased!sustainability”.&&
&
Can!you!Give!Some!Examples!of!Technologies?!
&
An& example& of& a& Smart& Tech& is& the& Rope! Pump,& which& upgrades& ancient& pump& technology&
with&new&materials&and&designs&in&an&effective&way44.&The&first&Rope&Pump&was&installed&in&
Nigeria&in&1990.&Eighteen&years&on,&there&are&some&80,000&rope&pumps&worldwide&used&by&
some& 3& million& people&of&whom&1.4&million&are&in&Africa.&One& of& the& huge& benefits& of& Rope&
Pumps&is&that&they&can&be&produced&using&local&skills&and&materials.&The&shift&from&imported&
piston& pumps& to& locally& produced& Rope& Pumps& led& to& the& rural& water& supply& in& Nicaragua&
increasing&three&times&faster&than&that&of&countries&using&conventional&hand&piston&pumps.&
Rope& pumps& are& between& five& and& eight& times& cheaper& than& piston& pumps& and& are& much&
easier& to& repair& because& of& their& simplicity& and& the& availability& of& spares& at& the& local&
blacksmith.&Where&they&have&been&installed&properly,&IRC&research&suggests&that&95%&of&the&
pumps&stay&working.&(IRC&2001).&
&
Other&new&lowerWcost&water&and&sanitation&options&for&schools&are:&&
!
•
Upgraded! dug! wells:& This& uses& simple& technology& to& improve& handWdug& wells& by&
installing& a& cover& and& a& hand& pump.& Additionally,& if& collapsing& of& the& well& is& a&
problem,&this&technology&enables&it&to&be&reinforced&with&the&“underlining&system”&
which&make&it&possible&to&deepen&the&well&without&collapsing.&
&
•
Rota!sludge!and!Baptist!drilling.&&This&involves&improved&manual&drilling&options&that&
can& drill& in& compact& clay& and& semiWhard& ground& layers& to& 50& and& 80& meters& deep,&
respectively45.&
!
44
&Based&on&Smart&Water&Solutions.&www.NWP.nl&
&&&&&&&&A&hand&operated&Rope&pumps&can&pump&from&35&m&deep.&(60&m&deep&with&2&handles)&
45
&Cost&of&machine&drilled&boreholes&including&a&piston&pump&in&Africa&range&from&US$3000&to&
$10,000,&depending&on&depth&of&water&layer.
112
•
Emas! tanks,! Wire! cement! tanks.! Underground& or& aboveground& cement& tanks& to&
collect&rooftop&or&ground&runoff&water.&These&tanks&use&wire&instead&of&construction&
steel& and& local& material& as& bricks& or& bamboo.& The& cost& is& 30W40%& lower& than& Ferro&
cement&tanks&and&volumes&can&be&up&to&60&cubic&meters.&!
•
Tube! recharge:& A& simple& option& to& recharge& the& aquifer& with& 10& to& 100& m3& of&
rainwater&that&otherwise&would&flow&away&to&the&rivers.&Experiences&in&Zambia&and&
Zimbabwe& indicate& that& dug& wells& which& previously& went& dry,& now& have& water& all&
year&round.&Cost;!US$2Y5&
•
Filtron! filter& A& potWshaped& ceramic& filter& promoted& by& Potters& for& Peace.& It&
eliminates&turbidity&and&bacteria&and&now&is&locally&produced&in&20&countries&
•
Family! life! straw,! Pureit! and! Siphon! filters.& & Small& and& effective& water& filters& that&
produce&60W120&litres&of&safe&drinking&water&per&day.&Cost!per!filter:!10!Y!35!US$.&&
!
!
&
&
Can!you!give!some!examples!of!Smart!Techs!water!projects?!
!
In&the&Njombe&area&of&south&Tanzania&some&&20&schools&with&between&200&and&400&students&
have& a& water& supply& from& Rope& pumps& installed& on& hand& drilled& wells& (boreholes).& The& shift&
from& machine& drilling& to& hand& drilling& and& from& imported& piston& pumps& to& locally& produced&
Rope&pumps&caused&the&cost&of&school&water&points&in&this&area&to&fall&from&3000&US$&to&600&
US$&each.&The&first&pumps&were&installed&in&2004&and&today&in&2009&90%&of&the&pumps&are&still&
working.&The&pump&maintenance&W&oiling&and&replacing&the&rope&and&washers&W&is&so&simple&that&
it&can&be&done&by&a&teacher&and&up&to&four&children.&For&sanitation&simple&pit&latrines&were&built&
at&a&cost&of&around&60&US$&per&latrine.&After&using&the&latrine,&children&wash&their&hands&with&a&
“Tippy&Tap”,&a&handWwashing&tool&that&costs&just&US$5.&
&
What!other!low!cost!options!are!there!for!every!school?!!
!
There&now&are&low&cost&solutions&for&almost&every&situation.&&
&
•
If&water&is&turbid&or&contaminated&with&harmful&bacteria,&it&can&be&made&clean&and&
safe& to& drink& with& new& filter& options.& One& filter& is& needed& for& every& 10W40& children&
depending& on& filter& model,& requiring& a& oneWtime& investment& of& between& 70c& and&
$1.5&per&child&&
&
•
Where&ground&water&is&at&60&m&deep&or&less,&dug&wells&or&hand&drilled&boreholes&can&
be&made.&Cost;&US$300&to&$1500&per&well.&&
&
•
Where& water& layers& are& deeper& or& in& the& case& of& very& hard& ground& layers& or& water&
contaminated& with& chemicals& as& arsenic& or& fluoride,& rainwater& can& be& caught& from&
the&roof&(or&the&ground)&and&filtered&for&drinking&purposes.&&&
&
Only&if&the&options&mentioned&above&are&not&adequate,&should&machine&drilled&boreholes&be&
used.&
&
•
For&sanitation;!in&most&cases&simple&pit&latrines&can&be&made.&Eventually&using&urine&
diversion& and& Ecosan.& The& human& waste& may& even& become& income& generating& for&
the&school&if&they&are&sold&as&fertilizer&to&farmers&in&the&surroundings&of&schools.&
&
113
•
For&hand!washing&&a&simple&and&popular&option&is&a&Tippy&Tap&at&a&cost&of&10c&per&
child,&$50&per&unit&
&
In&all&cases&hygiene&education&is&needed,&but&if&combined&with&practical&tools&it&is&more&easily&
adapted& by& children.& Another& advantage& of& introducing& Smart& Techs& in& schools& is& that&
children&will&convince&their&parents&to&start&using&these&new&options.&For&example,&the&Tippy&
Tap&is&disseminated&in&Mozambique&via&children’s&requests.&(ADPP&Itoculo)&&&
Why!aren’t!more!schools!provided!with!these!options?!
!
Mainly&due&to:&&
&
•
Lack! of! awareness.! Local& and& national& governments& are& hardly& aware& of& the& new&
options&so&do&not&&include&them&yet&in&planning.&It&takes&publicity&and&demonstration&
in&real&situations&to&make&stakeholders&aware&of&what&is&available.&There&are&many&
wrong& assumptions& & about& “appropriate& technologies.”& For& example& people&
remember&the&Rope&pump&from&35&years&ago&when&it&was&introduced&in&Africa&as&a&
low&lift&pump&only&fit&for&family&wells.&Sometimes&the&rope&pump&does&not&count&as&
an& improved& water& source& since& it& is& an& “open”& pump& and& the& well& can& be&
contaminated.&Experiences&indicate&that&both&assumptions&are&not&correct.&
&
•
Simple! is! not! always! easy.! One& lesson& learned& in& the& past& is& that& to& make& WASH&
facilities& sustainable& the& most& importance& condition& is& Reparability.& Whatever&
technology& is& installed,& the& school& should& be& able& to& manage& the& maintenance.&
(Simple,& Affordable& Available)& A& problem& with& low& cost& options& like& Rope& pumps& is&
that& they& are& “too& simple”.& Many& think& they& can& make& it& themselves.& But& although&
they&are&indeed&simple,&they&are&not&easy.&Basic&construction&and&installation&details&
are&essential.&For&instance&a&small&error&in&a&bushing&can&cause&the&handle&to&break&
within&two&months.&“The&devil&is&in&the&detail”&but&if&it&is&made&right&it&will&last&for&20&
years.&&
&
•
Lack! of! capacity! in! some! areas.& For& successful& dissemination& of& Smart& Techs,&
capacity&building&is&needed&regarding&technical,&organizational&as&well&as&marketing&
and&financial&aspects.&Training&is&needed&in&production,&installation,&quality&control,&
maintenance& management& etc.& To& guarantee& spare& parts,& training& is& needed& in&
supply&chain&and&financing&systems.&
&
!
Conclusion!!
!
With&a&wideWscale&dissemination&of&Smart&Techs,&the&cost&of&sustainable&water&and&sanitation&
for&schools,&especially&in&rural&areas,&can&reduce&by&50%&or&more.&
&
Recommendations!
!
• Publication&to&schools,&policy&makers&etc.&on&the&huge&positive&economic&impact&of&
water&and&sanitation.&This&has&been&estimated&as&a&benefit&of&between&$5W28&per&$1&
invested.&(SIWI/&WHO&2007)&&
• Evaluate& existing& low& cost& school& WASH& practices& and& compare& these& Smart& Techs&
with&conventional&approaches&and&technologies.&&&
• Disseminate&existing&information&on&Smart&Techs&through&the&SWS&booklet.&&
&
114
•
Wherever& new& water& and& sanitation& facilities& are& installed,& take& in& account& the&
Reparability.&
•
Before& installing& new& WASH& facilities,& investigate& low& cost& options.& For& instance&
before&starting&a&machineWdrilled&borehole,&investigate&if&hand&drilling&is&an&option.&
•
Create&Smart&Tech&centres&specialized&in&school&WASH&that&demonstrate&options&and&
have&capacity&to&train&local&private&sector&in&production,&marketing,&installation&and&
maintenance&via&hands&on&training.&&&
Create&“Millennium&schools”&in&every&region.&They&demonstrate&new&and&sustainable&
WASH&facilities,&and&can&function&as&an&example&in&that&specific&area.&&
&
&&&
•
&
•
Create&&“Smart&Financing&Solutions”&to&fund&investments&in&school&WASH&
Drilling a 30 m deep borehole in Njombe
Rope pump installed at a school in
Njombe
Pit latrines and Tippy Tap hand wash tool
Siphon filters in a school in
Mozambique
27.!Adaptive!Water!Governance!
UNDP!
&
&
World&leaders&have&pledged&to&achieve&by&2015&the&Millennium&Development&Goals&(MDGs),&
including&the&overWarching&goal&of&cutting&extreme&poverty&in&half.&The&governance&of&water&
has& profound& impacts& on& people’s& livelihoods& and& their& ability& to& break& out& of& poverty.&&
115
Beyond& the& MDG& water& and& sanitation& targets& themselves,& achieving& the& eight& MDGs& very&
much& depends& on& strengthening& water& governance& at& local,& national,& regional& and& global&
levels.&&&
&
UNDP&promotes&equitable&access&to&water&resources&and&water&and&sanitation&services&as&a&
fundamental& requisite& for& human& development.& The& global& crisis& in& water& and& sanitation&
stems& mostly& not& from& physical& shortages& but& from& social& and& political& insufficiencies& and&
inequality.& It& overwhelmingly& affects& the& poor.& Governance& reform,& therefore,& must& be&
central&to&any&strategic&approach&to&addressing&the&crisis.&
&
&
WATER!GOVERNANCE!PROGRAMME!AT!A!GLANCE!
&
• UNDP! Water! Governance! Programme! is& active& in& over& 150& countries& with& a& current&
portfolio&of&over&$500&million&plus&substantial&coWfinancing.&
•
UNDP!Water!Governance!Programme&works&in&three&strategic&areas…&
 Water&Supply&and&Sanitation&
 Integrated&Water&Resources&Management&
 Regional&and&Global&Cooperation&
•
…&and&four&crossWcutting&themes:&
 Adaptation&to&Climate&Change&
 Human&Rights&Based&Approach&
 Gender&and&Empowering&Women&
 Capacity&Building&and&Knowledge&Management&
•
UNDP! Water! Governance! Facility& at& Stockholm& International& Water& Institute& provides&
policy&support&and&advice&on&water&governance&reforms.&
•
UNDP! GoAL! WaSH! Programme& supports& Governance,& Advocacy& and& Leadership& for&
Water,&Sanitation&and&Hygiene&to&scale&up&safe&and&affordable&services.&&
•
UNDP! Community! Water! Initiative& with& the& GEF& Small& Grants& Programme& supports&
community&action&on&water&resources,&water&supply&&&sanitation.&
•
UNDP’s! CapNet& builds& capacity& of& institutions& and& individuals& through& 22& national& and&
regional&networks&including&300&member&institutions.&
•
UNDP! Transboundary! River! Basin! Initiative& (TRIB)& facilitates& cooperation& on& shared&
waters&for&regional&security&and&economic&development.&
•
UNDP’s! GEF! International! Waters& portfolio! supports& transboundary& water& and& marine&
resources& management& programmes& in& 15& lakes/river& basins/aquifers,& and& 10& Large&
Marine&Ecosystems.&&
•
WaterWiki.net& offers& innovative& knowledge& management& for& water& professionals& on&
water&and&development;&supporting&partners&include&UNICEF,&WHO,&UNECE,&WWAP.&
•
UNDP! participates! in& UNWWater,& UNWOceans,& Global& Water& Partnership,& WSP,& World&
Water& Assessment& Programme,& IW:LEARN,& Global& Forum& on& Oceans,& Coasts& && Islands,&
and&GESAMP.&
&
&
Beyond!scarcity:!Power,!poverty!and!the!global!water!crisis!!
3$$$UNDP&Human&Development&Report&2006$
116
$
%“I%fully%support%the%call%for%a%Global%Action%Plan%to%tackle%the%growing%water%and%sanitation%
crisis.%%As%the%2006%Human%Development%Report%highlights,%each%one%of%the%eight%Millennium%
Development%Goals%is%inextricably%tied%to%the%next,%so%if%we%fail%on%the%water%and%sanitation%
goal,%hope%of%reaching%the%other%seven%rapidly%fades.%%Either%we%take%concerted%action%now%to%
bring%clean%water%and%sanitation%to%the%world’s%poor,%or%we%consign%millions%of%people%to%lives%
of% avoidable% poverty,% poor% health% and% diminished% opportunities,% and% perpetuate% deep%
inequalities%within%and%between%countries.%%We%have%a%collective%responsibility%to%succeed.”%%
!
—!Kemal!Derviş,!UNDP!Administrator!&
&
&
&
&
UNDP! Water! Governance! Programme& (WGP)& works& in& partnership& with& governments,& UN&
agencies,&international&financial&institutions,&NGOs,&bilateral&and&multilateral&donors&and&the&
private& sector& in& each& of& its& strategic& and& crossWcutting& areas.& & WGP& uses& a& human& rights&
based& approach& and& promotes& mainstreaming& of& gender& issues& and& the& empowerment& of&
women.& & Incorporation& of& climate& change& impacts& on& water& and& marine& resources& is&
systematically& integrated& to& put& in& place& effective& adaptation& responses.& & WGP’s& networks&
such&as&CapNet&provide&access&to&experience,&expertise&and&tools&so&that&good&practices&can&
be&readily&shared.&
&
Water!Supply!and!Sanitation!
&
UNDP& works& to& bring& about& the& necessary& improvements& in& water& governance& to& scale& up&
water& and& sanitation& services& for& the& poor.& & Through& its& MDG& GoAL& WaSH& initiative,& WGP&
focuses& on& coordinated& country& assistance& by& UN& and& other& development& partners& and&
inclusion& of& water& and& sanitation& in& national& development& planning.& & Special& attention& is&
given& to& fragile& states& where& water& and& sanitation& challenges& are& greatest.& & At& local& level,&
WGP& supports& decentralized& policy& implementation& and& community& action& through& the&
Community&Water&Initiative.&
&
Integrated!Water!Resources!Management!
&
WGP& assists& countries& develop& capacities& and& implement& integrated& approaches& to& water&
resources& management& and& development.& & Support& to& sector& reforms& focuses& on& policy,&
regulatory& and& institutional& measures& to& manage& competing& demands& and& improve& equity&
and& efficiency& in& water& use& and& management.& & WGP& is& working& with& over& 50& countries,&
including&all&Small&Island&Developing&States,&supporting&development&and&implementation&of&
IWRM&plans&in&the&context&of&national&development&strategies.&&&
&
117
Regional!and!Global!Cooperation!
&
Cooperation& on& transboundary& waters& management& focuses& on& strengthening& the& joint&
management&of&rivers,&lakes,&aquifers&and&oceans&by&setting&priorities,&building&consensus&on&
governance& reforms& and& investments,& nurturing& and& strengthening& institutions,& and&
supporting& the& implementation& of& action& programmes.& & UNDP& has& assisted& over& 100&
countries&in&these&efforts&ranging&from&completion&of&transboundary&diagnostic&analyses&to&
the&preparation&and&adoption&of&regional&water&body&legal&frameworks.&&&
&
UN!Water!
&
UN&Water&is&the&interagency&mechanism&that&promotes&coherence&and&coordination&of&UN&
system& actions& aimed& at& the& implementation& of& the& agenda& defined& by& the& Millennium&
Declaration& and& the& World& Summit& on& Sustainable& Development.& & It& comprises& the& 24& UN&
agencies&active&in&water&and&sanitation,&among&them&UNDP.&&UNDP&takes&an&active&part&in&
the& work& of& UN& Water& and& has& been& a& key& contributor& to& its& World& Water& Development&
Reports.&&
!
For!more!information!please!visit:!www.undp.org/water&
25.!Religion!and!Water!and!the!link!with!Hygiene!Promotion:!the!case!of!
Bangladesh!
UNICEF.!Hans!Spruijt,!Bangladesh!
Bangladesh$ distribution$ of$ faiths:$ 89.7%$ Muslim,$ 9.2%$ Hindu$ and$ 1.1%$ others.$ Still,$
Christian:$1.6$million$people.$$$$$$
&
Religion!as!an!entry!point!
!
Most& religions& seem& to& recognize& the& importance& of& water& and& its& necessity& for& life.&
Buddhism,&Christianity,&Hinduism,&Islam,&Judaism,&Shintoism&and&Zoroastrianism&most&other&
religions&are&based&on&a&set&of&morals&on&what&is&right&and&wrong,&linked&to&deeper&religious&
truths.&Water&serves&as&a&symbol&of&purification&and&has&connotations&of&being&sacred.&Living&
water& is& an& ultimate& concept& of& lifeWgiving& water,& a& spiritual& concept& linked& to& physical&
qualities& of& water& seen& in& nature.& Not& only& is& there& a& link& with& spiritual& truths,& the& sacred&
books&also&advise&that&“physical&impurities”&(including&women’s&monthly&bleeding)&need&to&
be&cleaned&with&water&to&render&cleanliness.&&
&
Sacred&books&also&refer&to&impure&water&leading&to&disease&and&death.&Storms,&the&seas&and&
lack& of& water& (droughts)& and& disease& transmitted& through& water& are& lifeWthreatening&
externalities.&Purity&and&hygiene&are&also&laws&that&reflect&on&daily&life.&Man&is&the&custodian&
of& the& world& and& provision& of& water,& keeping& it& clean& for& living& creatures& to& draw& on& for& a&
healthy,&fruitful&life.&&
&
118
Aware& of& these& links,& between& faith& and& water& and& cleanliness& education& of& adults& and&
children& in& schools,& from& a& truly& holistic& point& of& view& of& man& with& body,& soul& and& spirit&
should&best&base&itself&on&these&links&and&truths.&&
&
The&practicalities&that&can&be&drawn&from&this:&
• Sacredness& and& purity& is& the& integral& part& of& every& religion.& In& religious& scripture&
there&are&discussions&on&cleanliness&
• Religious& leaders& are& respected& and& faithful& in& the& community.& They& contribute& to&
the&communities&as&change&agents.&
• A&group&of&people&have&beliefs&in&a&common&way.&
&
How!religious!leaders!can!contribute!in!the!WASH!program!in!Bangladesh:!
!
• Disseminate& hygiene& messages& in& regular& gathering& and& prayer& session& in& the&
mosque&
• Encourage&people&to&wash&their&hand&in&six&critical&times&with&soap&or&ash.&
• Interlink&hygiene&and&sanitation&messages&with&religious&aspect.&
• Disseminate&messages&and&motivate&community&people&keep&the&&house&compound&
clean&and&maintain&personal&hygiene&as&part&of&religious&faith&
!
Program!Communication!Intervention:!
!
• Orient& the& religious& leaders& on& sanitation,& hygiene& and& safe& water& supply& and& the&
programmes&incl.&campaigns&going&on.&
• Build&the&capacity&to&analyze&the&religious&part&of&water&and&sanitation&which&make&
them&capable&to&interlink&with&each&other.&
• Disseminate&Behavioural&Change&Communication&(BCC)&materials&for&them&to&make&
the&updated&information&available.&
• Give&the&recognition&to&the&best&leaders&for&their&contribution.&
!
Intervention’s!Sustainability:!
!
• Religious&leaders&live&in&the&community&
• Religious&norms&and&practices&are&not&separate&from&every&day’s&life&
• Community&people&are&meeting&with&them&at&regular&intervals&
• Religious&leaders&are&respectable&in&the&community&
• In& Bangladesh,& rural& people& regularly& visit& religious& leaders& for& conflict& resolution,&
spiritual&treatment&of&diseases.&
&
Work!with!the!Imams:!
&
1.& An& Imam& of& Mosque& or& Leader& of& another& religion& from& each& union& and& ward,& received&
orientation&on&sanitation&and&hygiene&issues&during&the&Union&WASH&Committee&and&Ward&
WASH&Committee&training.&The&total&number&of&religious&leaders&is&6300&in&630&unions.&
&
Result:&Imams&are&disseminating&sanitation&and&hygiene&messages&after&daily&prayer,&weekly&
prayer& (Friday).& They& are& motivating& and& influencing& people& to& make& themselves& and& their&
environment&clean&as&a&part&of&Faith.&
&
2.&A&total&320&religious&leaders&from&the&ethnic&minority&communities&of&the&Chittagong&Hill&
Tracts& received& orientation& on& sanitation& and& hygiene.& These& started& disseminating&
119
messages.&They&are&also&playing&a&good&role&in&the&community&to&improve&the&sanitation&and&
hygiene&situation&in&their&community.&&
&
3.& On& an& average,& there& three& mosques& in& each& Ward& in& Bangladesh.& So& in& total& we& are&
covering& 5670& X& 3=& 17,010& mosque& through& this& project.& Imams& of& this& huge& number& of&
mosques& could& play& an& active& role& to& behaviour& and& social& change& related& with& sanitation&
and&hygiene.&
&
Other!examples!in!Bangladesh:!
!
In& Bangladesh& there& is& a& different& success& history& related& to& the& involvement& of& Imams& in&
different&development&projects.&
&
• Imams&are&trained&on&maternal&and&child&health&by&the&Health&Ministry&
• Imams&are&trained&on&HIV&and&AIDS&by&the&Health&Ministry&
• Imams&are&trained&on&environmental&protection&by&the&Ministry&of&Environment&
• Imams& are& trained& on& violence& against& women& and& children& by& the& ministry& of&
women&and&children&affairs.&
• There&are&other&several&trainings&they&have&received.&
&
The&Islamic&Foundation&of&Bangladesh&was&established&in&1973&and&from&the&beginning&they&
are& facilitating& different& development& activities.& Also& there& are& different& organizations& of&
different&religions&that&are&also&very&influential&in&their&community.&&
&
Good!example/case!Study:!
&
The&Ministry&of&Health&initiated&to&train&Imams&on&HIV&and&AIDS.&After&receiving&the&training&
they&went&back&to&their&community&and&disseminated&the&messages&regarding&HIV&and&AIDS&
prevention.&
&
There& are& different& types& of& stigma& and& discrimination& against& different& vulnerable& groups&
like&commercial&sex&workers,&injecting&drug&users&etc.&One&of&the&common&trends&observed&
was& that& the& funeral& ceremony& of& the& commercial& sex& workers& was& fully& prohibited& in& the&
common&graveyard&of&the&community.&Trained&Imams&are&started&to&work&on&this&especially&
in& brothel& areas,& making& the& community& aware& on& human& rights& in& terms& of& religion,&
motivate&them&to&create&space&for&the&dead&bodies&of&the&sex&workers&and&finally&they&were&
successful&in&changing&the&stigmatized&mind&set&of&the&community.&
!
&
&
&
28.!Water,!faith!and!education!
WORLD!BANK.!Leonard!Abrams,!Senior!Water!Resource!Specialist,!Africa!
&
&
Introduction!
&
Water& is& a& pervading& factor& in& our& lives,& often& in& ways& which& are& not& obvious.& & The& role&
which& water& plays& in& development& is& therefore& also& allWpervading.& & There& is& the& most&
120
obvious& issue& of& water& services& for& direct& human& consumption& which& is& regarded& as& a& key&
development& goal& and& indicator.& & This& usually& includes& basic& water& supply& and& sanitation&
which& impacts& on& the& health& and& productivity& of& individuals& and& communities.& & There& is,&
however,& a& range& of& other& development& issues& which& depend& upon& water& including& food&
production,& energy& generation,& industry,& mining,& urban& service& industries,& health& services&
etc.&&&
&
In& many& developing& countries& inadequacies& in& the& protection& and& development& of& water&
resources&constitute&a&key&constraint&on&development&and&growth.&&Climate&variability&–&in&
which&rainfall&is&a&key&element&–&impacts&on&many&developing&parts&of&the&world&resulting&in&
repeated& ‘water& shocks’& such& as& droughts& and& floods.& & These& shocks& have& been& shown& in&
subWSaharan& Africa& to& be& the& second& largest& impact& on& growth,& second& only& to& political&
instability& and& conflict.& & Beyond& the& issues& of& drinking& water& and& the& role& of& water& in& the&
economy,&there&is&the&central&role&of&water&in&the&natural&environment.&Entire&ecoWsystems&
are&primarily&defined&by&rainfall&characteristics,&river&basins,&and&water&bodies&such&as&lakes&
and&estuaries.&&The&role&of&water&in&the&cycle&of&life&is&thus&all&pervading;&it&is&little&wonder&
that&it&occupies&such&a&central&role&in&many&faiths&and&rituals.&
&
How&society&protects,&harnesses&and&uses&water&is&therefore&very&important&and&can&have&a&
direct&impact&on&the&lives&of&everyone.&
&
The&World&Bank&and&Water&
&
The& World& Bank,& like& many& organizations& involved& in& development,& has& had& an& evolving&
approach& to& water& over& the& years.& & After& a& period& when& infrastructure& investment& was&
regarded&as&the&primary&role&of&organizations&such&as&the&Bank,&dam&building&was&common.&&
In& recent& years& though,& the& emphasis& shifted& from& largeWscale& infrastructure& to& service&
provision& of& basic& water& supply& and& sanitation.& & Through& processes& such& as& the& World&
Commission&on&Dams&we&have&all&learned&a&great&deal&about&best&practice&in&water&resource&
development.&&However,&there&is&a&growing&realisation&that&in&order&to&meet&the&needs&of&
growing& populations& and& to& reduce& the& devastating& impacts& of& poverty,& infrastructure&
remains&a&key&requirement.&&&
&
The&development&of&water&resources&can&be&used&as&an&indicator&of&the&wealth&of&a&nation.&&
A& very& stark& figure& is& the& volume& of& water& stored& in& artificial& reservoirs& per& capita&
population.&&In&the&relative&temperate&climates&of&North&America&the&figure&is&estimated&at&
6,150&m3&per&person.&&In&Africa,&which&has&a&far&more&variable&climate&and&therefore&needs&
more&storage&to&balance&the&water&scarcity&equation,&the&country&with&the&highest&storage&
per& capita& is& South& Africa& with& 788& m3/capita& –& Ethiopia& has& 47,& Lesotho& 11!& & There& is&
therefore&very&little&capacity&to&balance&the&dry&and&wet&years&and&the&economies&of&these&
countries&are&highly&vulnerable&to&water&shocks.&
&
How&do&we&undertake&the&investments&that&are&needed&in&such&a&way&that&the&benefits&are&
maximized& whilst& the& costs& are& minimized?& & Here& ‘costs’& has& a& broad& meaning& –& much&
broader& than& the& monetary& costs& alone& –& we& must& include& social,& cultural,& and&
environmental& costs.& & The& Bank& has& developed& a& set& of& Safeguard& Policies& which& cover& a&
wide&range&of&issues&–&see&the&list&of&Safeguard&Policies&below.&
&
The&Safeguards&are&extremely&rigorous&and&all&projects&are&assessed&to&determine&whether&
or&not&they&trigger&any&of&the&Safeguards.&&If&a&project&is&deemed&to&trigger&a&safeguard,&an&
extensive&process&of&examination&of&impacts&and&mitigation&measures&are&included&as&part&
121
of&the&project.&&This&is&one&way&in&which&a&level&of&ethical&behaviour&is&codified&into&the&work&
of&the&Bank.&
&
World!Bank!Safeguard!Policies!
4.01&W&Environmental&Assessment&
4.04&W&Natural&Habitats&
4.09&W&Pest&Management&
4.10&W&Indigenous&Peoples&
4.11&W&Physical&Cultural&Resources&
4.12&W&Involuntary&Resettlement&
4.36&W&Forests&
4.37&W&Safety&of&Dams&
7.50&W&Projects&on&International&
Waterways&
7.60&W&Projects&in&Disputed&Areas&
&
Water& development& and& use& is& not& only& about& engineering& and& the& natural& sciences,&
however.& & Virtually& everything& to& do& with& water& relates& to& power,& patronage,& rights& and&
privilege.&&This&is&not&only&in&terms&of&who&gets&access&to&water&to&use&it&to&their&advantage,&
but&also&the&impact&which&people&may&have&on&the&water&which&is&accessible&to&others.&&The&
degradation& of& upper& catchment& areas& through& deforestation,& population& pressure,& poor&
landWuse& practices& or& the& indiscriminate& construction& of& dams& may& all& have& impacts&
hundreds& of& kilometres& away& –& causing& water& scarcity,& flash& flooding,& sedimentation& of&
water&ways&etc.&&In&Africa,&as&a&postWcolonial&legacy,&there&are&no&major&river&basins&which&
are& not& shared& between& two& or& more& countries& which& has& led& to& regional& tensions& and&
stalled&progress.&&International&waters&has&become&an&important&area&of&work&for&the&World&
Bank&and&a&number&of&biWlateral&agencies&–&it&is&very&complex;&the&politics&of&the&situation&
are&often&far&more&difficult&to&resolve&than&technical&problems.&
&
The&World&Bank&DDVE&Unit&
&
In&recognition&of&the&importance&of&ethics&and&values&in&development,&the&World&Bank&set&
up&a&new&unit&called&the&Development&Dialogue&on&Values&and&Ethics&–&DDVE,&in&2000.&&&The&
unit& initially& focused& mostly& on& outreach.& Flagship& initiatives& included& meetings& between&
faith& and& development& leaders& coWchaired& by& World& Bank& President& James& D.& Wolfensohn&
and&Lord&Carey,&the&Archbishop&of&Canterbury.&&The&DDVE&is&rapidly&becoming&a&recognised&
centre& of& excellence& for& evidenceWbased& analysis& of& issues& related& to& faith,& ethics& and&
development& that& contributes& to& better& policies& and& programmes& for& poverty& reduction,&
with&a&focus&on&the&most&vulnerable&populations.&
&
The&DDVE&focuses&its&work&on&three&complementary&thematic&areas:&&
i. (i)&
Conducting&operationally&relevant&empirical&research&on&service&delivery&by&
Faith& Based& Organisations& (FBOs)& in& order& to& inform& development& policy& and&
projects&in&developing&countries;&&
ii. (ii)& Exploring& how& faith& and& religion& affect& the& perceptions& and& behaviour& of&
individuals,& households& and& organisations& and& how& this& in& turn& affects&
development;&and&&
iii. (iii)& Conducting&empirical&work&on&ethical&dilemmas&in&development&policy.&
&
In&the&light&of&all&this&complexity,&what&is&the&role&of&education&and,&in&particular,&the&role&of&
faith&based&educational&institutions?&
&
&
Water&in&education&
&
School& level& education& provides& the& basis& of& knowledge& on& which& to& build& life& skills& to&
122
enable&students&not&only&to&become&productive&members&of&society,&but&also&to&understand&
how& they& interact& with& the& wider& world& around& them.& & This& includes& both& the& factual&
realities&as&well&as&the&value&systems&of&their&particular&communities.&&Water&in&this&context&
has&a&wide&range&of&different&impacts&as&we&have&already&seen.&&People&need&to&understand&
how& water& works& in& the& world& they& live& in& W& how& water& affects& their& lives,& and& how& their&
actions&impact&on&the&lives&of&others.&&This&is&not&just&a&subject&for&students&of&science&and&
geography&–&everyone&needs&to&know&the&basics.&&Understanding&the&basic&natural&science&
of& water& alone& is& not& sufficient& –& there& is& also& a& need& to& inculcate& the& values& related& to&
water&which&will&lead&to&equity&and&fairness&in&society&in&matters&relating&to&water.&
&
A$classroom$in$Western$Kenya$damaged$by$floods.$
$
During% a% site% visit% to% a% school% and% surrounding% area% in% Western% Kenya% to% address% frequent%
flooding,%a%woman%in%a%homestead%held%a%conversation%at%a%distance%across%the%fields%with%
the% Head% Teacher% % who% was% accompanying% us.% % The% Head% teacher% explained% to% the% woman%
why%we%were%there%and%she%replied%that%perhaps%we%were%the%answer%to%their%prayers%for%help%
with% the% flooding.% % Seeing% a% World% Bank% project% as% an% answer% to% prayer% was% a% new%
perspective.%
&
&
Science%of%water%
&
A& basic& education& in& the& natural& sciences& should& be& provide& to& all& pupils& beginning& with& the&
simple&reality&of&the&hydrological&cycle&and&progressing&to&more&complex&aspects.&&This,&together&
with&hygiene&and&other&basic&health&education&will&assist&in&demystifying&water&issues&and&equip&
people& to& make& more& informed& choices& related& to& their& wellbeing& and& development.& & Water&
education& should& not& be& restricted& only& to& matters& of& potable& water& supply& and& sanitation& –& it&
needs&to&cover&other&aspects&such&as&basic&agricultural&water&use,&water&conservation,&the&cycle&
of& water& pollution,& sanitation& etc.& & Many& of& these& practices& are& already& contained& in& local&
customs&and&practices,&both&religious&and&secular.&&Providing&some&of&the&reasons&behind&these&
practices&will&help&to&instil&them&into&the&norms&of&behaviour&of&individuals&in&their&communities.&
&
&
Values%and%ethics%of%water&&
%
Creating& knowledge& and& understanding& about& water& is& only& part& of& the& educational& process& –&
creating&values&is&quite&another&thing.&&One&of&the&basic&teachings&of&most&faiths&is&the&imperative&
of&dealing&justly&and&rightly&towards&others;&another&is&to&look&out&in&particular&for&the&interests&
of& those& in& society& who& are& poor,& oppressed& and& hurt.& & Who& is& our& neighbour& in& the& sphere& of&
water?&&This&raises&a&host&of&issues&–&how&does&the&actions&of&farmers&upstream&impact&on&people&
123
downstream?&&What&impact&will&building&a&dam&have&on&an&ecoWsystem&on&which&others&depend?&&
How&do&you&balance&the&need&for&decent,&healthy&water&supplies&in&urban&fringe&areas&with&the&
impacts& which& abstracting& a& certain& amount& of& water& have& on& the& rights& and& needs& of& others?&&
The&basic&values&need&to&be&taught&from&an&early&age&as&fundamental&tenets&of&behaviour.&&Such&
a&foundation&will&then&be&much&more&likely&to&be&worked&out&by&leaders&and&communities&in&later&
life&and&be&reflected&in&policy,&legislation&and&how&society&organises&itself.&
&
&
Conclusion&
&
Water&is&a&very&broad&issue&which&impacts&on&almost&every&sphere&of&life&and&development.&&It&
must&be&approached&from&an&integrated&perspective&which&addresses&the&basic&needs&of&people&
as&well&as&being&a&key&element&of&growth&and&development&whilst&ensuring&the&sustainability&of&
the& resource.& & There& are& two& key& areas& in& which& school& education& can& make& a& major& input& to&
water&and&development&as&a&whole;&&
&
1)& Teach& the& basic& natural& sciences& related& to& water& and& its& position& in& the& broader&
environment;&and&&
2)& Teach& the& basic& tenets& of& ‘good& neighbourliness’& and& concern& for& others& which& will&
pervade& the& worldview& of& successive& generations.& & In& this& enterprise& FBOs& have& a& key&
role.&
&
The!backbreaking!daily!job!of!providing!water!in!rural!Mozambique!
!
i
&WHO&(2004)&Water,&sanitation&and&hygiene&links&to&health.&Facts&and&figures.&Geneva.&
&UNICEF/WHO&(2008)&Joint&Monitoring&Report.&Progress&on&Drinking&Water&and&Sanitation&with&a&Special&Focus&
on&Sanitation.&
iii
&Rosado,&JL&et.&al.&(2007)&Arsenic&exposure&and&cognitive&performance&in&Mexican&schoolchildren&in&
Environmental&Health&Perspective.&115(9):1371W5&
iv
&WaterAid&(2004)&Water&and&Sanitation.&The&Education&Drain.&
v
&12th&Session&of&the&United&Nations&Commission&on&Sustainable&Development&(CSD12).&A&Statement&of&the&
Ecumenical&Team&to&CSD12&coordinated&by&the&World&Council&of&Churches&
April&19&to&30,&2004,&New&York.&
vi
&UNESCO&(2008)&Water&and&Cultural&Diversity.&Towards&Sustainability&of&Water&Resources&and&Cultures.&
vii
&Nawab,&B&(2006)&Cultural&preferences&in&designing&ecological&sanitation&systems&in&North&West&Frontier&
Province,&Pakistan&in&Journal&of&Environmental&Psychology.&26:236W246&&
viii
&WaterAid&(2005)&Schoolgirls:&towards&health,&dignity&&&wellbeing.Sanitation&Provision&in&BenishangulWGumuz&
Regional&State&(BGRS)&Schools:&Girls&and&Women’s&Experiences.&
ii
124
ix
&Tearfund&(2008)&Gender&and&sanitation:&breaking&taboos,&improving&lives.&
&Deniel,&K&(2004)&Improving&children’s&excreta&disposal&in&emergency&settlements.Vol&1.&Thesis&(MSc)&Cranfield&
University&at&Silsoe.&
xi
&Jones,&H&and&Reed,&R&(2005)&Water&and&sanitation&for&Disabled&People.&WEDC,&Loughborough&University.&
xii
&Zomerplaag,&Jaap&and&Mooijman,&Annemarieke&(2005).&ChildWFriendly&Hygiene&and&Sanitation&Facilities&in&
Schools:&Indispensable&to&effective&hygiene&education.&Delft,&The&Netherlands,&IRC&International&Water&and&
Sanitation&Centre.&
xiii
&WegelinWSchuringa,&M&(2000)&Public&Awareness&an&Mobilisation&for&Sanitation.&The&Hague,&IRC.&
xiv
&UNICEF&(2006)&School&Sanitation&and&Hygiene&Education.&Results&from&the&assessment&of&a&6&country&pilot&
project.UNICEF/IRC.&
xv
&Webster&(2007)&Evaluation&of&the&ECHO&funded&Tearfund&Integrated&WatSan&and&Public&Health&Promotion&
Progrmme&in&Nimba&County,&Liberia.&Unpublished&Report.&Tearfund,&Teddington.&
xvi
&In&press&WHO&(2009)&Water,&sanitation&and&Hygiene&Standards&for&Schools&in&LowWcost&Settings.&&
xvii
&http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/&
xviii
&For&further&information&see:&http://www.dfid.gov.uk/GettingWInvolved/Campaigns/CampaignW
Responses/ResponseWonWTearfundsWDontWForgetWaboutWToiletsWthisWyearWcampaign/&&&
xix
&DFID&(2009)&Meeting&our&Promises&2009.&The&fifth&update&on&DFID’s&work&in&water&and&sanitation&since&the&
2004&Water&Action&Plan.&
xx
&Kenya&Ministry&of&Education&(2009)&National&School&Water,&Sanitation&and&Hygiene&Promotion&Strategy&2008&–&
2015.&
xxi
&DFID&Kenya&(2009)&Annual&reporting&on&Water&Supply&and&Sanitation&and&Water&Resources&Management.&
xxii
&UNICEF&Nigeria&(2008)&Girls&Education&Project.&Evaluation&Report&
x
125